Waterloo Bridge 1901

This is Claude Monet’s 'Waterloo Bridge', created with pastels. Monet was a key figure in Impressionism, a movement deeply entwined with shifts in 19th-century European society. The Industrial Revolution redefined labor and class structures, drawing more people into urban centers like London, the subject of this work. Monet’s choice to depict Waterloo Bridge wasn't just about capturing its physical structure but also about documenting the changing social and environmental landscape of the era. His focus on light and atmosphere reflects the ephemeral nature of modern life, where identities and communities were in constant flux. Monet once said, "I couldn't manage to render the atmosphere... the sun." The hazy, almost dreamlike quality of this piece invites us to consider our own fleeting experiences and how they're shaped by the spaces we inhabit. It’s an invitation to reflect on how industrial progress impacts our collective sense of place and belonging.