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"Nuages" (French for "Clouds") is one of the most celebrated compositions by Belgian-born guitarist Django Reinhardt, written in 1940 during the Nazi occupation of Paris. Its meditative, drifting melody captures both the melancholy of wartime and a yearning for freedom, making it a cornerstone of the gypsy jazz repertoire.

The piece follows a 32-bar AABA form. Early recordings are in F major, while later versions — particularly those featuring violin — are often in G. The melody is built around an ascending-descending motif beginning with a semitone interval, followed by a fifth leap and a chromatic descent, giving it a distinctly European lyricism. The bridge's shift from Cm to G major forms the emotional climax, and the rich chromatic harmony throughout invites expressive interpretation and ornamentation.

The definitive recording is by Django Reinhardt and the Quintette du Hot Club de France (December 13, 1940, Swing Records), featuring the twin clarinets of Hubert Rostaing and Alix Combelle. A deeply moving final version was recorded in 1953, shortly before Reinhardt's death, with Maurice Vander on piano and Pierre Michelot on bass.