Description
In this 1899 painting that’s also known as “The Japanese Footbridge”, Monet portrays the arched bridge and pond that by then had become his primary source of inspiration. Monet completed several paintings from this same perspective to show the bridge under different lighting conditions. In this one, the sun shines down, contrasting with the soothing greens of the bridge, the trees and the water lilies that overpower the pond. You feel the same serenity as if actually sitting in the garden as the artist did while completing this work. For Claude Monet, the Japanese bridge was a focus of more than just his art. Finally freed from financial worries thanks to his commercial success, he spent most of the 1890s using his wealth to design the gardens of his Giverny home. That personal passion and care shines through in this contemplative piece, which draws influence from Japanese art while remaining true to classical Impressionism. It will bring peacefulness and wonder to your home just like it did to Monet for so many years.
