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Student Artwork Guide

The Floating Ice

Claude Monet, 1880

Name Class Date
Claude Monet, The Floating Ice (1880). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Claude Monet topimpressionists.com/en/artists/claude-monet/
Artist’s dates
1840 – 1926
Painted
1880
Medium
Oil On Canvas
Movement
Impressionism Painters working fast and outdoors to catch how light actually looked at one moment, rather than finishing smoothly in a studio.
Artistic style
Panoramic landscape
Influences
Eugène Boudin
Notable elements or techniques
Loose brushstrokes; Capturing light and color.
Subject or theme
Frozen river landscape

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Claude Monet died in 1926; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1996.

Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 26, 2026

The Floating Ice — Claude Monet Part 1 · The artwork

In context

The Floating Ice — Claude Monet

When was this painted?

  1. 1840
  2. 1850
  3. 1860
  4. 1870
  5. 1880
  6. 1890
  7. 1900
  8. 1910
  9. 1920

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 86 at death.

Painted when the artist was 40. The artist lived to 86. 494 of the 1565 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Claude Monet (1840–1926) ▲ this work, 1880 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1876 Main working years: 1876–1897 Late works: from 1897

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/claude-monet-the-floating-ice-5ZKBY5-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Khaki #d6c68b

    Catalogued palette

    • #D6C68B
    • #A59768
    • #402F23
    • #906536

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Khaki
    Intensity
    Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Balanced How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Brilliant How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Clear Color Presence How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Claude Monet over the last twelve months — 88 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 42.3%
    2. 2 United States of America 9.5%
    3. 3 Singapore 6.8%
    4. 4 Hong Kong 6.4%
    5. 5 France 5.1%
    6. 6 Italy 3.4%
    7. 7 Germany 1.9%
    8. 8 Brazil 1.8%
    9. 9 United Kingdom 1.5%
    10. 10 Spain 1.5%
    11. · 78 other countries 19.8%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Claude Monet

    1. 1 Water Lilies (or Nympheas) 3.7%
    2. 2 Water Lilies, 1906 2.3%
    3. 3 The Walk. Lady with a Parasol, 1875 2.1%
    4. 4 Gare Saint Lazare, Pari, 1877 2.1%
    5. 5 Impression, Sunrise, 1873 1.7%
    6. 6 Clifftop Walk at Pourville, 1882 1.5%
    7. 7 Grainstack in the Morning, Snow Effect, 1890 1.4%
    8. 8 Pathway in Monet's Garden at Giverny, 1902 1.0%
    9. 9 le bassin aux nympheas - reflets verts, 1920 0.8%
    10. 10 The Thames below Westminster, 1871 0.8%
    11. 11 The Road Bridge at Argenteuil, 1874 0.6%
    12. 12 Madame Monet in Japanese Costume (La Japonaise), 1876 0.6%
    13. 13 Camille Monet On Her Deathbed, 1879 0.6%
    14. 14 Poplars at Giverny, 1887 0.6%
    15. 15 Irises in Monet's Garden, 1900 0.5%
    16. 16 Monet's Garden at Vetheuil, 1881 0.5%
    17. 17 Sunrise, The Sea, 1873 0.4%
    18. 18 The Walk, Woman with a Parasol, 1875 0.4%
    19. 19 Blue Water Lilies 0.4%
    20. 817 The Floating Ice, 1880 this painting 0.0%

    Together these works take 22.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 2202 works by this artist, of which 1788 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 817 of them, with 0.0% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 26, 2026

    The Floating Ice — Claude Monet Part 2 · In context

    About this artwork

    The Floating Ice — Claude Monet

    Claude Monet: A Life in Light and Color

    Claude Monet (1840–1926) was a French painter and founder of Impressionism painting who is seen as a key precursor to modernism, especially in his attempts to paint nature as he perceived it. During his long career, he was the most consistent and prolific practitioner of Impressionism's philosophy of expressing one’s perceptions of nature, especially as applied to plein air (outdoor) landscape painting. The term “Impressionism” is derived from the title of his painting Impression, Sunrise (Impression, soleil levant), which was exhibited in 1874 at the First Impressionist Exhibition, initiated by Monet and a number of like-minded artists as an alternative to the Salon.

    Monet was born Oscar-Claude Monet on November 14, 1840, in Paris, France. He was the second son of Claude Adolphe Monet (1800–1871) and Louise Justine Aubrée Monet (1805–1857), both of them second-generation Parisians. On 20 May 1841, he was baptised in the local Paris church, Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, as Oscar-Claude, but his parents called him simply Oscar. Although baptised Catholic, Monet later became an atheist. He was raised in Le Havre, Normandy, and became interested in the outdoors and drawing from an early age. Although his mother, Louise-Justine Aubrée Monet, supported his ambitions to be a painter, his father, Claude-Adolphe, disapproved and wanted him to go into the family's ship-chandling and grocery business, but Monet wanted to become an artist. His mother was a singer, and supported Monet’s desire for a career in art.

    A key early influence was Eugène Boudin, who introduced him to the concept of plein air painting – capturing scenes directly from nature. Also created caricatures for local businesses, demonstrating entrepreneurial spirit. He went on to study at the Académie Suisse, and under Charles Gleyre, where he met artists like Auguste Renoir. His early works included landscapes, seascapes, and portraits, but attracted little attention.

    ## The Floating Ice: An Analysis

    Claude Monet was a renowned French painter and one of the leaders of the Impressionist movement. His painting, The Floating Ice, is a beautiful example of his unique style and technique. Created in 1880, this oil on canvas painting showcases Monet’s mastery of capturing the fleeting effects of light and color in nature.

    The Floating Ice is a captivating depiction of a frozen river landscape, with ice floes drifting gently in the current. Monet’s use of cool blues and whites to render the icy surface creates a sense of tranquility and stillness, while his loose brushstrokes evoke the subtle movement of the water beneath the ice. The artist's masterful handling of light is evident in the way he captures the soft glow of the winter sun on the snow-covered banks and the delicate reflections on the icy surface.

    ## Background on Claude Monet

    Claude Monet was born in Paris in 1840 and is celebrated for his captivating landscapes and still-life paintings. His innovative approach to painting, which emphasized capturing immediate perceptions and the essence of nature, revolutionized artistic approaches. Monet's philosophy, primarily based on outdoor (plein air) landscape art, significantly influenced modernism.

    ## Acquiring a Handmade Oil Reproduction

    If you are interested in acquiring a handmade oil reproduction of The Floating Ice, visit AllPaintingsStore.com. Our skilled artists meticulously recreate each detail, ensuring that every brushstroke captures the essence of the original work. You can also explore other works by Claude Monet and learn more about his style and technique at AllPaintingsStore.com.

    Discover the beauty of Impressionism and the works of Claude Monet at The Art of Painting Styles at AllPaintingsStore.com

    Learn more about the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, France, and its collection of Monet's works

    The Floating Ice is a captivating depiction of a frozen river landscape, with ice floes drifting gently in the current. Monet’s use of cool blues and whites to render the icy surface creates a sense of tranquility and stillness, while his loose brushstrokes evoke the subtle movement of the water beneath the ice. The artist's masterful handling of light is evident in the way he captures the soft glow of the winter sun on the snow-covered banks and the delicate reflections on the icy surface.

    ## Photo Description:

    The painting is a beautiful representation of a river with trees in the background. The scene captures the essence of nature as it unfolds before us. There are several birds scattered throughout the scene, some flying near the water's edge and others perched on branches or rocks. In addition to the birds, there is an abundance of ducks floating along the river, adding a sense of liveliness to the image. The trees in the background provide a serene atmosphere, while the presence of the ducks creates a lively and dynamic scene. Overall, this painting is a captivating representation of nature's beauty and tranquility.

    The Floating Ice | Claude Monet | Painting Reproduction - TOPofART

    Size: Unknown Date: 1880

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 26, 2026

    The Floating Ice — Claude Monet Part 3 · About this artwork

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Claude Monet

    Born in Paris, France

    A Life Shaped by Light and Water

    The story of Oscar-Claude Monet begins in the streets of Paris, though his heart was often found wandering the salt-misted air of Le Havre. As a young boy, he moved to Normandy, where his father initially hoped he would follow a path in commerce. Yet, the boy possessed a restless eye for detail, finding early success by selling charcoal caricatures to local acquaintances. It was during these formative years that a chance encounter with Eugène Boudin changed everything. Boudin did not merely offer lessons in oil paint; he introduced the young man to the practice of painting en plein air, teaching him to set his easel directly within the unpredictable elements of nature.

    This early training instilled a lifelong obsession with the fleeting moment. When the Franco-Prussian War forced him into the streets of London, Monet found himself absorbing the atmospheric effects seen in the works of J.M.W. Turner. He returned to France with a new understanding of how mist and light could dissolve solid forms. In Paris, he sought formal instruction under Charles Gleyre, where he formed deep bonds with fellow painters like Auguste Renoir. These friendships were forged in a shared desire to break away from the rigid, dark constraints of the academic Salon, seeking instead a way to record the world as it was actually perceived by the eye.

    The Rebellion of Impression

    The year 1874 marked a turning point for this group of rebels. Dissatisfied with conservative standards, they organized their own independent exhibitions. It was during one such showing that his painting, Impression, Sunrise, gave a name to a movement that many initially viewed with derision. The term "Impressionism" emerged from the very criticism meant to mock his loose brushstrokes and unfinished appearance. Monet did not recoil from this label; he embraced it, using it to define a style centered on the subjective sensation of a scene.

    His technique became a study in optical truth. He applied unmixed colors side-by-side, a method known as broken color, allowing the viewer's eye to blend the hues. He rejected traditional dark grounds, opting instead for light-colored primers that added a new brightness to his canvases. His work often focused on the following elements:

    The use of rapid, visible brushstrokes to capture movement.

    The study of how sunlight alters the appearance of a single subject over time.

    The rejection of linear perspective in favor of asymmetrical, flattened arrangements influenced by Japanese prints.

    Giverny and the Final Vision

    In 1883, Monet settled in Giverny, creating a sanctuary that would become his most profound subject. He transformed his property into an elaborate garden, complete with a water lily pond and a Japanese bridge. This was no mere landscape; it was a living laboratory where he could observe the interplay of light on water and foliage under controlled conditions. The gardens at Giverny provided him with a steady stream of inspiration for decades.

    The later years of his life were defined by the monumental Water Lilies series. These vast canvases, often painted while he struggled with cataracts, moved toward a near-abstract state where the horizon line vanished entirely. He painted the same pond repeatedly, documenting the way shadows danced across the surface at dusk or how morning mist clung to the lilies. Through these works, he achieved a sense of immersion, inviting anyone who looked upon them to lose themselves in a world of pure, shifting color. He left behind a legacy that fundamentally altered the trajectory of modern art, proving that the most transient moment could be captured through the power of paint.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for The Floating Ice

    topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/claude-monet-the-floating-ice-5ZKBY5-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Monet, Claude. The Floating Ice. 1880, https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/claude-monet-the-floating-ice-5ZKBY5-en/
    APA
    Monet, Claude (1880). The Floating Ice [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/claude-monet-the-floating-ice-5ZKBY5-en/
    Chicago
    Claude Monet. The Floating Ice. 1880. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/claude-monet-the-floating-ice-5ZKBY5-en/
    Harvard
    Monet, Claude (1880) The Floating Ice. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/claude-monet-the-floating-ice-5ZKBY5-en/

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 26, 2026

    The Floating Ice — Claude Monet Part 4 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    The Floating Ice — Claude Monet

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: landscape, winter, ice floes. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Water Lilies (or Nympheas), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Impressionism: Painters working fast and outdoors to catch how light actually looked at one moment, rather than finishing smoothly in a studio. Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 26, 2026

    The Floating Ice — Claude Monet Part 5 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    Can I watch "The Floating Ice" as a full-screen slideshow?

    "The Floating Ice" by Claude Monet can be viewed as a slideshow on the artwork's Diaporama page.

    Are the colors of "The Floating Ice" by Claude Monet vivid or muted?

    "The Floating Ice" by Claude Monet is recorded with a clear color presence saturation and a vivid intensity.

    How much light do the colors of "The Floating Ice" appear to reflect?

    The colors of "The Floating Ice" show a gentle luminance luminance.