Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect 1903

Claude Monet painted this view of Waterloo Bridge using oil on canvas. Monet’s technique, defined by short brushstrokes, captures the ephemeral effects of light and atmosphere. Yet, it is also important to consider the scene itself. Look at the factory chimneys in the background. Monet was not just representing a pretty picture, he was capturing the industrial revolution. He returned to this motif repeatedly, each time rendering the scene in a slightly different way. The thick application of oil paint becomes a way to emphasize the density of the smog, which reflects a polluted environment and raises questions about labor, industrial production, and the social costs of progress. It is as if Monet wanted to use the inherent qualities of his materials to make a statement about the changing world. In his time, painting was considered fine art, but the craft of applying pigment to canvas was essential to the work's meaning and cultural impact.