NGA French Impressionism

The Bridge of Argenteuil
1874
​Oil on Canvas

      This French Impressionist piece shows elaborate layering of color in short and abrupt brushstrokes.  The heavy contrasts in color show immense depth and the gradient and in color and shadow.  Because the strokes are composed in such a blotchy manner and with such vivid colors, the closer to the painting you get the more non-objective it becomes as the shapes seem to disappear.  From far away however the short strokes melt together and it becomes more fluent and realistic.  The water especially benefitted from the stroke technique that captures the choppy texture of the small ripples and waves.  This style of Impressionism presents a realistic image composed of unrealistic marks and rich textures and color layering.  This particular  painting relies on the color variety and mixture of textures supplied by the brushstrokes, and the contribution of natural looking shadows of the outdoors.