The Magpie
Claude Monet · 1868
Why it's great
A magpie perches on a gate in a quiet field of dazzling snow, with a small house in the background. Monet painted the shadows in blues and lilacs instead of gray, which was radical in 1869. It's one of the loveliest snow scenes in art. The tiny black-and-white bird gives it humor and rhythm.
Where to see it
📍 Musée d'OrsayParis, France
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Claude Monet was born in Paris but grew up on the coast of Normandy, where he learned to paint outdoors. He was a leader of Impressionism, and he lived in places like Argenteuil and, for his last 43 years, Giverny, where he built a famous garden with a pond of water lilies. He painted the same scenes again and again at different times of day to capture changing light. He kept painting until he was 86, even as his eyesight faded.
