Artwork
Argenteuil, the Bridge under Repair
Argenteuil, the Bridge under Repair is an oil painting by Claude Monet. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
About this work
Overview
Claude Monet painted Argenteuil, the Bridge under Repair in 1872 using oil on canvas. The work measures a modest size and is part of the collection at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. It records a moment of ordinary activity along the Seine, capturing a wooden bridge undergoing maintenance amid a muted, overcast atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The scene presents a wooden bridge spanning the river, supported by scaffolding and attended by laborers. A small boat drifts nearby, while a few pedestrians cross the structure. The gray, cloud‑filled sky and calm water reflect a quiet, everyday episode of industrial work intersecting with the natural landscape.
Technique & Style
Monet employs a restrained palette of browns, greys and soft blues, allowing the sky and water to mirror each other. Loose brushwork suggests the texture of wood and scaffolding, while subtle variations in light and shadow create depth and a sense of atmosphere. The overall effect emphasizes the transient qualities of light over a modest, working‑class setting.
History & Provenance
Completed in the early 1870s, the painting reflects Monet’s interest in modern life along the Seine during his Argenteuil period. It entered the Fitzwilliam Museum’s holdings in the 20th century, where it remains on view as part of the institution’s French Impressionist collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Oscar-Claude Monet was born in Paris on November 14, 1840, and raised from the age of five in Le Havre, where he began selling charcoal caricatures as a teenager.
