La Pie

Claude Monet, one of the founding fathers of Impressionism, painted the extraordinary piece, “La Pie” (The Magpie) during the winter of 1868-1869 while he was living in Étretat, a small village in Normandy. The painting is lauded for its delicate rendition of a solitary magpie perched on a gate in a snowy landscape, which is considered a breakthrough in the artist’s exploration of light and color.

One of the most remarkable aspects of “La Pie” is its innovative approach to portraying a winter scene. Traditionally, artists used shades of white, grays, and blues to represent snow. However, Monet broke this norm by introducing subtle shades of color into the white landscape, representing the reflection of light off the snow. This pioneering treatment of light and color – using dappled brushwork and nuanced tones – later became a hallmark of the Impressionist movement.

In addition, “La Pie” is a testament to Monet’s commitment to plein air painting – the practice of painting outdoors to capture natural light, color, and atmosphere. This approach challenged the prevailing norm of painting in a studio from sketches or memory. Even in the freezing winter, Monet braved the elements to capture the scene as faithfully as possible.

Monet’s “La Pie” is also significant due to its unconventional focus on an everyday, seemingly mundane scene. Rather than painting grand historical or religious themes, Monet chose to depict an ordinary bird in a common rural setting. This focus on the beauty of the everyday is another distinguishing feature of Impressionism.

It’s no surprise then that “La Pie” is considered one of the high points of Monet’s early career and a precursor to his later series of works. The painting is housed in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, a testament to its artistic and historic value.