Seine and Old Bridge at Limay 1872

Camille Corot made this painting of the Seine and Old Bridge at Limay in France, though the exact date is unknown. It is a pastoral scene, depicting an old stone bridge surrounded by lush greenery. Corot was working at a time of rapid industrialization in France. The rise of factories and railways transformed the landscape and the lives of ordinary people. But here, Corot shows us a timeless scene of rural life. It might be seen as an idealized vision of the past, perhaps even a conservative vision as France struggled with modernization. Yet Corot himself was a politically engaged figure, and his art was also admired by more progressive painters. To understand Corot's place in the rapidly changing art world of his time, scholars might look to exhibition reviews or letters from the period to understand the reaction of his contemporaries. In this way, we can reveal the complex social forces at play in the history of art.