Views of the Thames 

at The Courtauld 

until 19 January, 2025 

As I've said before, The Courtauld's exhibitions are always something to look forward to - small and focussed, allowing you to look in detail at every exhibit, and consider the scope of the display in its entirety. Not that there are many details to look at here, given that Monet's views of London are renowned for their atmospheric qualities, lack of hard edges, and - simply put - lack of detail. 

But look again! The complexity of his subject matter is revealed by its apparent imprecision, the variations between the different treatments of the same motif allowing us to understand the different forms and different moods of his subject matter, how he understood what he was looking at, and the way he appreciated the 'modern' world in which he was living. 

Above all else, the images are a delight for the eye, a balm for the soul in troubled times, and a warming presence, ideal for the days before Christmas and what could be a cold winter ahead.