Claude Monet’s “Waterloo Bridge, Overcast Weather,” painted in 1904, is a fine example of the Impressionist movement. Monet’s rendering of cityscapes during his prolific career includes this notable work, which is part of a larger series devoted to the Waterloo Bridge. The chosen genre for this artwork is cityscape and it captures the atmospheric mood and architectural form of the bridge and its surroundings.
The artwork depicts Waterloo Bridge spanning the River Thames in London, with industrial buildings punctuating the skyline in the background. Monet focuses on the bridge’s graceful arches, which are seen through a veil of diffuse, muted light, suggesting the overcast weather conditions of the scene. The brushwork is loose and expressive, characteristic of Impressionist techniques, capturing the transient effects of light and atmosphere rather than the precise details of the bridge and its environment. The painting is imbued with a palette of cool blues and warm pinks, creating a harmony that conveys not just the visual but also the emotive quality of the scene. Reflections on the water’s surface shimmer with complexity under the overcast sky, emphasizing the importance of light in Monet’s works, even when the sun is obscured by cloud cover. The industrial age’s intrusion into the natural landscape is subtly suggested by the appearance of smokestacks and the blurred outlines of buildings, hinting at the dynamic changes of the era.