Artwork
The Old Bridge or Ipswich Bridge
The Old Bridge or Ipswich Bridge is a print by the Impressionist artist Arthur Wesley Dow. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1894, *The Old Bridge (Ipswich Bridge)* is a print by American artist Arthur Wesley Dow. The image presents a wooden bridge spanning a rippling waterway, rendered with bold planes of green, brown, blue and a pale yellow sky. The composition balances the solid, jagged railing against the fluid surface, emphasizing the interplay of structure and movement.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a bridge likely situated in Ipswich, Massachusetts, a locale associated with Dow’s summer art school. By focusing on the bridge and its surrounding water, the piece explores themes of connection and transition, using the built form as a focal point within a natural setting.
Technique & Style
Dow employs a simplified, almost sketch‑like application of color, with uneven, thick strokes that suggest light and texture rather than detailed realism. The print’s palette of muted greens, browns, and blues, punctuated by a soft yellow sky, reflects his interest in design principles and the reduction of form to essential visual elements.
History & Provenance
Arthur Wesley Dow (1857–1922) was a prominent painter, printmaker, photographer, and educator. He taught at the Pratt Institute and founded the Ipswich Summer School of Art, where he promoted his theories of composition. *The Old Bridge* originates from this period of his career, illustrating the aesthetic he advocated to his students and contemporaries.
Artist & collection
Artist
Arthur Wesley Dow (April 6, 1857 – December 13, 1922) was an American painter, printmaker, photographer and an arts educator.
