Ice Floes on the Seine at Bougival

Ice Floes on the Seine at Bougival is a painting by Claude Monet, completed during the severe winter of 1867-1868. The scene depicts the Seine River at Bougival, a small village near Paris, covered in floating chunks of ice as a result of freezing temperatures. Monet uses a predominantly monochromatic palette, emphasizing various shades of grey to convey the cold, misty atmosphere. The soft brushwork captures the stillness of the frozen river, while a few figures on the riverbank, painted with brisk, detailed strokes, add life to the otherwise quiet landscape. This painting is an early example of Monet's exploration of light and atmospheric conditions, which would become central to his later work