The Gare Saint Lazard is one of seven mainline railway stations in Paris, built in 1837 it was the first station to be built there.
Monet made a series of twelve paintings at this location, this was the first time he was to concentrate on a single theme.
Influenced by industrialization of the 19th century, Monet rented a studio nearby and gained permission from the Director to paint directly beside the track and on the concourse. Soaking up the atmosphere he was detemined to portray how the trains moved through the hot air. With station workers all around him he sat patiently waiting for the perfect time to put brush to canvas.
This image shows the arrival of a train, thick clouds of steam and plumes of smoke rising up from burning coals obscuring the distance.
A station worker is waiting in the foreground and station masters can be seen on the platform on the right. A group of people are waiting on the platform on the left. Through his brushstrokes he has created a sense of fleetingness perfectly.