Woman with a Parasol – Madame Monet and Her Son

A woman and child stand on a grassy rise, seen from below. Wind seems to pass through the dress, veil and grass in one continuous movement. The green parasol shades the face while bright clouds open behind it; shadows carry color rather than simply turning black.

The work in context

Monet painted Woman with a Parasol — Madame Monet and Her Son in 1875. The National Gallery of Art identifies the figures as his wife Camille and their son Jean. The view from below gives the people and the parasol a clear silhouette against a large expanse of sky, while the grassy slope keeps the scene grounded.

What to look for

Wind is suggested through several kinds of marks rather than one explicit sign. The veil extends, the dress shifts and the grass leans. Shadows on the pale clothing contain cool colors, while reflected light warms other areas. Look at the parasol’s curved edge and then at the rounded clouds: each is soft in a different way.

Discover it in your focus time

This work is part of the Monet collection in Tempo Canvas for iPhone. As you finish focus sessions, artworks become part of your personal gallery. Use your break to revisit a detail, then put your phone aside for the next task.

New to this kind of break? Try our guide to slow looking or set up your first Pomodoro session on iPhone.