Boulevard Saint-Denis, Argenteuil, in Winter

The Impressionist interest in specific effects of light and weather is evident in Monet's rendering of the exact moment in which the sun struggles to break through a light snowfall. He made a preparatory sketch for this painting; clearly, careful deliberation lay behind his seemingly spontaneous technique. The subject of falling snow and the figures with umbrellas are reminiscent of Japanese woodblock prints, which had a strong influence on Impressionist artists.