The Railway Bridge at Argenteuil, 1874 by Claude Monet

Monet was fascinated by painting this railway bridge during his time at Argenteuil. For him, it represented the coming together of modernity and nature. He always painted it with a train rushing across and billowing smoke. This explosion of energy was contrasted with the tranquility of the water. The bridge, which has contact with both, links the two different worlds.

In The Railway Bridge at Argenteuil, the solid paint on the bridge is contrasted with the colors used on the water. In places, the brushwork is applied sketchily. However, when Monet wishes to illustrate the movement of light over the water he uses denser and more detailed strokes. This is especially evident in the water moving under the bridge. The painting does not have one dominant color or tone; instead, each section is given a color of its own that complements its neighbor and also separates it: for example, the greeny-yellow of the grass is not related to the gray of the bridge, but the tones manage to complement one another.