“Seagulls over the Houses of Parliament” is an oil painting on canvas created by Claude Monet in 1904. Reflecting the Impressionist art movement, this artwork measures 92 x 82 cm. Monet’s depiction of the cityscape resides in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, Russia.
In the painting, Monet conveys the ethereal beauty of the London skyline with particular focus on the Houses of Parliament. The brushwork is loose and free-flowing, characteristic of the Impressionist style that endeavors to capture the fleeting effects of light and color rather than the precise details of the subject. The color palette consists of soft pastel hues, with gentle pinks, blues, and creams that suggest the effect of sunlight diffusing through the mist and pollution of early 20th-century London. The titular seagulls can be seen as dashes and small strokes of off-white, implying movement against the soft backdrop. The water of the River Thames is indicated in the foreground through horizontal brushstrokes, and the blurred, almost ghostly outlines of the parliamentary buildings rise into the mottled sky. Overall, the painting captures a moment of quiet serenity over the bustling city, a testament to Monet’s mastery in portraying atmosphere and light.