Artwork
Charing Cross Bridge, London

Charing Cross Bridge, London is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Claude Monet. It dates from 1901 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
- Accession no.
- 16544
- Credit line
- Mr. and Mrs. Martin A. Ryerson Collection
About this work
Overview
Charing Cross Bridge, London is an oil on canvas painting depicting a city scene with a bridge and boats on the river Thames.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows Charing Cross Bridge, with the ghostlike silhouette of the Houses of Parliament rising beyond its rectilinear skeleton. The work captures the effects of light seen through a dense atmospheric screen, characteristic of London's smoggy environment at the time.
Technique & Style
The bridge's structure is reminiscent of bridges in Japanese prints, a style that influenced the artist. The painting focuses on the interplay of light and atmosphere, reflecting the artist's interest in capturing fleeting effects.
History & Provenance
Claude Monet created this painting as part of a series of almost 100 works depicting the Thames River, primarily from the Savoy Hotel. The series was begun in September 1899.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Oscar-Claude Monet was a French painter and founder of Impressionism who is seen as a key precursor to modernism, especially in his attempts to paint nature as he perceived it.


















