Le pont du chemin de fer c. 1880

Alfred Sisley painted ‘Le pont du chemin de fer’ with oil on canvas during the late 19th century, a period of immense social and technological change in France. Sisley was part of the Impressionist movement, which challenged the traditional artistic conventions of the time and, in particular, the French Academy’s control over art production and taste. Instead of historical or mythological scenes, Impressionists like Sisley turned to everyday life and the modern landscape, painting outdoors to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. Consider how the railway bridge in this painting represents industrialization and urbanization, which were reshaping French society at the time. The bridge serves as a symbol of progress and change, but note that the landscape retains an untouched, pastoral quality. This tension between nature and technology reflects the complex attitudes towards modernity prevalent in late 19th-century France. To fully understand the historical significance of Impressionism, we need to examine exhibition records and critical reviews, tracing the ways in which artists sought to redefine art's purpose and broaden its audience.