In 1867, Monet (1840-1925) turned his back on tradition when he focused on the bustling life of Paris from the balcony of the Louvre. He was fascinated by the present in the growing French capital rather than the old masters. In a series of three paintings he created a new pictorial topic. The important works from Berlin, Den Haag and Oberlin come together in exhibitions and this lavishly illustrated book.

Monet's cityscapes of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, the Jardin de l'Infante and the Quai du Louvre are considered to be the earliest Impressionist city views. In them he casts a completely new artistic eye over the modern metropolis being rebuilt by Haussmann. By doing so he also inspired artists like Caillebotte and Pissarro to create their own cityscapes. A new subject was born which the publication reveals in all its beauty through the example of Monet's three principal works as well as others by famous Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists.

Artists include Claude Monet with Gustave Caillebotte, Johan Barthold Jongkind, Maximilien Luce, Henri Matisse, Camille Pissarro.