War and Exile

In July 1870, France declared war on Prussia, a conflict that would prove disastrous. Monet, recently married to Camille in a hurried ceremony, fled to London to avoid conscription, joining a number of other French artists in exile. Pissarro was already there, having left earlier, while Bazille, refusing to abandon France, enlisted and would tragically be killed in battle at the age of twenty-eight.

London provided unexpected opportunities. Monet was introduced to Paul Durand-Ruel, a French art dealer who had also taken refuge in England. Durand-Ruel, who had already shown interest in the Barbizon School, was immediately attracted to Monet's work. This meeting would prove crucial for the Impressionists' future, as Durand-Ruel would become their most important early supporter and dealer.

In London, Monet studied the works of Turner and Constable, British masters who had pioneered the painting of atmospheric effects. Turner's late works, with their dissolutions of form in light and color, particularly impressed him. The foggy atmosphere of London itself, so different from the clear light of France, presented new challenges and opportunities. His paintings of the Thames, Hyde Park, and the Port of London show him adapting his technique to capture the city's unique light.