Bridge in Rouen: Pont Corneille 1896

Camille Pissarro sketched "Bridge in Rouen: Pont Corneille," using graphite on paper. This piece gives us a glimpse into 19th-century France, a period marked by rapid industrialization and urbanization which dramatically reshaped French society. Pissarro, deeply invested in anarchist ideals, often depicted scenes of everyday life, celebrating the dignity of labor. In this sketch, the bridge itself acts as a symbol of connection, juxtaposed against the backdrop of factories and chimneys, which represent the changing landscape and the rise of the working class. The bridge is more than just infrastructure. Pissarro subtly acknowledges the people who navigate it daily. His choice to focus on this bridge invites us to reflect on our own connections to community and place. The sketch serves as a poignant reminder of the human element within the grand narrative of progress.