Cloud studies are the quietest genre in nineteenth-century art and one of the strangest: painters going outdoors with oil and paper to catch something that would be gone in ten minutes, decades before photography could do it for them. A single-gallery show is the right scale for work made at this size and speed, and it rewards standing still.
What to expect
A focused single-gallery presentation of small-scale works on paper and oil sketches, hung at close viewing distance. Expect twenty to thirty minutes on its own, low light levels appropriate to works on paper, and a much calmer room than the Met's blockbuster special-exhibition galleries a floor away.
Good to know
- Gallery 852 is in The Met Fifth Avenue's European paintings and drawings wing - grab a map or use the Met app to find it directly
- New York State residents and NY/NJ/CT students can pay what they wish at the admission desk
- It is a works-on-paper show, so gallery lighting is deliberately dim and flash photography is out
- The run stretches through the winter, making it a good cold-weather plan rather than a weekend rush
- The Met's Fifth Avenue entrance queues badly at midday on weekends; the ground-level side entrance is usually faster
- Pair it with the Morgan Library, co-owner of the Thaw Collection work at the show's center, for a themed day
Planning Sep 18–20, 2026 in NYC?
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Common questions
Is there an extra charge?
No. Chasing Clouds is free with Met admission, and New York State residents plus New York, New Jersey and Connecticut students can pay what they wish.
Where in the museum is it?
Gallery 852 at The Met Fifth Avenue.
How long does it run?
September 14, 2026 through February 28, 2027.
