Artwork
Waterloo Bridge, sun and rain
Waterloo Bridge, sun and rain is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Emile Claus. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
About this work
Overview
Emile Claus’s 1916 oil painting, titled Waterloo Bridge, sun and rain, captures a rainy scene over London’s Thames. The canvas presents the iconic five‑arched bridge, its stonework glistening with moisture, while a lone automobile crosses the span. The composition is held by the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, where it forms part of their early‑20th‑century European collection.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays Waterloo Bridge against a brooding sky, its arches reflected in choppy river water that carries a few small boats. The inclusion of a solitary car suggests modern urban life intersecting with the timeless flow of the Thames, emphasizing the tension between human activity and the natural elements of rain and river.
Technique & Style
Claus employs a pronounced impasto technique, laying on paint in thick, textured strokes that convey the slickness of the bridge and the turbulence of the water. A restrained palette of blues, grays and muted whites creates a cool, subdued atmosphere, while the heavy brushwork accentuates the damp, atmospheric quality of the scene.
History & Provenance
Created during the First World War, the painting entered the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium’s collection, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in Belgian artists who engaged with international subjects, and it stands as a documented example of Claus’s later, more atmospheric oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Museum
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
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