The Bridge over the Seine 1874

Claude Monet painted "The Bridge over the Seine" with oil on canvas, capturing a scene that reflects the industrial progress of late 19th-century France. Here, the modern iron bridge contrasts with the traditional sailboats, mirroring the era's rapid technological advancements and their integration into everyday life. Monet, an Impressionist, was interested in how the changing qualities of light affect the landscape. The painting reflects the institutional changes that elevated the status of landscape painting at the Salon, the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Monet and his contemporaries challenged the institution by choosing to represent scenes from modern life. To truly understand this work, look at the art criticism of the time, and also sources from urban planning to appreciate how Monet’s vision both embraced and critiqued the evolving Parisian landscape.