In 1892 Marquet met Henri Matisse, who would become a great influence in his career. This canvas recalls Matisse’s view of Notre-Dame Cathedral, painted from his studio window. Marquet’s vantage point is farther along the river, possibly from his own apartment near the Pont Saint-Michel, seen here bustling with carriages and pedestrians. While cool greys dominate this winter scene of Paris, Marquet produced a colourist effect by varying the tones from blue to brown and using accents of red and white.
