Artwork
Bridge at Poissy (Pêcheurs à ligne)
Bridge at Poissy (Pêcheurs à ligne) is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist Ernest Meissonier. It dates from 1881 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2022.432
- Credit line
- Bequest of Muriel Butkin
About this work
Overview
Bridge at Poissy (Pêcheurs à ligne) is a painting by French artist Ernest Meissonier, created in a naturalist style that diverges from his typical academic realism.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a man and woman in a small boat on the Seine at Poissy, fishing in a serene environment. The figures, dressed in fashionable attire, represent the emerging urban class enjoying leisure time.
Technique & Style
Notable for its loose brushstrokes, the painting contrasts with Meissonier's usual meticulous and detailed style, often used to depict historical or regal subjects.
Context
The work is part of a broader 19th-century trend in French art that focused on everyday life and the activities of ordinary people.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier was a French academic painter and sculptor. He became famous for his depictions of Napoleon and his military sieges and manoeuvres in paintings acclaimed both for the artist's mastery of…
