Charing Cross Bridge 02 1902

Claude Monet made this oil painting of Charing Cross Bridge in 1902 by looking closely at how colour and light interact. Up close, the surface is a tapestry of small brushstrokes, a mosaic of blues, oranges, and yellows that somehow blend to form a hazy, atmospheric scene. It’s a dance of colour, each stroke distinct yet contributing to the overall shimmering effect. You can almost feel the dampness in the air, the way the light filters through the London fog. There’s a horizontal stroke of pale blue that stands out amidst the oranges and yellows. It suggests a sense of distance, like a faraway horizon line, or a cloud trailing across the sky. It holds the whole thing together, anchoring the composition. It reminds me of the work of Turner, especially the way he captured the ephemeral effects of light and atmosphere. But Monet takes it a step further, dissolving form into pure sensation.