MONET - A BRIDGE TO MODERNITY

French painter Claude Monet (1840–1926) is one of the most popular artists of all time. His paintings of water lilies, haystacks, cathedrals, and much more are well known and well loved. This book explores Monet’s fascination, during the 1870s, with bridges. After moving to Argenteuil, on the outskirts of Paris, Monet was drawn to the footbridge near his house, and his painting of it, The Wooden Bridge, is a composition of startling modernity. Published to accompany a major exhibition, the book examines how Monet sought to establish himself as a leader of the avant-garde and how his paintings of bridges played a vital role in this context. Focusing on 12 major paintings, the book probes the impressionists’ response to their ever-changing environment.