This wooden jigsaw puzzle version of Red Boats was painted around 1875, and perfectly captures the warmth of the summer day, with fishing boats bobbing on the Seine, puffy little white clouds in the sky, and the wealthy promenading along the shore. Although less than 10 miles northwest of  Paris, Argenteuil was completely removed from the hustle and bustle of city life, and although starting to industrialize it was at this point still quite quaint and picturesque.

Claude Monet lived in Argenteuil for over four years during the early 1870s, after returning from London, and it became one of his favorite subjects for a while. He created several versions of this idyllic scene which were sometimes at odds with reality. In actuality, the river was getting somewhat polluted, as the stresses of industrial Paris were beginning to make their way downriver. Argenteuil was becoming an industrial town, and a suburb of Paris, and Monet also doesn't show the smokestacks that were likely appearing in the distance.

But it was here that Impressionism gained ground, as Renoir, Manet, and Sisley all decamped here along with Monet, and together developed the characteristic style that they would all become famous for. Very much a frat boys club of the time, they rented country houses, and subscribed to an idealistic version of what life was like. Between them they painted nearly one hundred paintings of this sleepy little commune, developing the studies that impressionism would become famous for.

Monet spent much time on the river in his boat studio, embracing the light on the water, and this painting is likely composed there, as Monet was a proponent of En Plein Air painting. He carefully chose the elements he wanted to include and took a stylized view of his surroundings, capturing impressions rather than actualities and often finishing his canvases in the studio, where they became more interesting and pastoral than reality. 

This is considered the finest version of the Red Boats paintings and currently hangs at the Musee D'Orsay in Paris.

The perfect gift for wooden jigsaw puzzlers, Impressionist fans, and lovers of Claude Monet's Painting, this traditional adult wooden jigsaw puzzle can be done time and again. Our wooden jigsaw puzzle artists have included many summer and Impressionism-themed shaped whimsy wooden jigsaw puzzle pieces that match the subject of the painting, and we have integrated them in ways that will delight and surprise you as you put the wooden jigsaw puzzle together. Wooden jigsaw puzzle is for any family and friends.

• Includes a Bonus Poster to Guide Assembly
• Irregular Edge for an extra challenge
• Number of Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces: 475
• Completed Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle Size: 16" X 13.5"
• Artist: Claude Monet
• Serial #: NP21-475-421
• Wood Thickness: 4mm
• Cut Style: Modern
• Difficulty: Level 3
• Made in the USA