“Charing Cross Bridge 2” is an artwork by Claude Monet, created between 1899 and 1901, as part of his renowned Charing Cross Bridge series. This piece is an exemplar of the Impressionism movement, specifically focusing on the landscape genre. Monet’s series captures the atmospheric conditions and light variations around the Thames and the Charing Cross Bridge during different times of day and weather.
The artwork displayed is marked by Monet’s characteristic loose brushwork and vivid interplay of light and color. The painting captures the essence of the bridge and its surroundings blurred by mist or smog, with subtle impressions of the architectural structure faintly visible through a haze. The rippling water reflects the scattered light and colors of the sky and landscape, with strokes of blues, greens, pinks, and oranges creating a sense of movement and luminosity. The overall effect conveys the fleeting moments of light and atmosphere, hallmarks of the Impressionist desire to depict the transient qualities of nature.
