After settling in Argenteuil, Monet set out to paint the surrounding countryside, but occasionally retreated to his home where he found familiar subjects. This portrait, which is apparently of Camille wearing a red cape, is a case in point. The artist finds perfect harmony in his view of the subject, the spontaneous expression of the female figure, and the simplicity of effects applied. This highly original painting allowed him to prove his talent for playing with the light and transparency of the glass panes and curtains. He went for a composition that was subtly decentred, disrupting the modelâ??s solemnity. In its portrayal of the contemporary middle classes, this female portrait is in the tradition of Femmes aux jardins. For a long time, Monet held on to this painting of his wife: he kept the canvas until 1920.
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