The artwork “Waterloo Bridge, London,” completed by Claude Monet in 1903, is a distinctive exemplar of the Impressionist art movement. This particular cityscape is part of Monet’s acclaimed “Waterloo Bridge” series, which captures the atmospheric conditions and light over the River Thames. The artwork reflects the essential characteristics of Impressionism, with a focus on the transitory visual impressions mediated by natural light and color.
The artwork depicts the Waterloo Bridge enveloped by a misty ambiance, with hues of blues and grays intermingled with soft pinks and oranges suggesting the presence of sunlight diffused through the London fog. Monet’s technique involves a series of short, broken brushstrokes that coalesce into the architectural forms of the bridge and the industrial skyline. The play of light on the surface of the Thames creates a sense of fluidity and movement, with the water’s shimmering reflections adding a dynamic quality to the scene. The composition effectively conveys the ephemeral nature of the moments Monet sought to capture, where the environment and the conditions of light are in a state of perpetual change.
