Artwork
Bridge with Rain
Bridge with Rain is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist George Hendrik Breitner. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Bridge with Rain / Rain and Wind is an oil painting on canvas executed in 1887 by George Hendrik Breitner.
Bridge with Rain / Rain and Wind is an oil painting on canvas executed in 1887 by George Hendrik Breitner. The work measures 62 cm in height and 102 cm in width.
The handling is characterized by vigorous, visible brushwork that conveys the transient effects of rain and wind, with rapid, rhythmic strokes applied to suggest falling water and gusting air. The composition emphasizes the bridge as a dark, vertical mass against a lighter, atmospheric background, using a restricted palette of muted greys, blacks, and blues to evoke overcast weather.
Formally, the scene is reduced to essential elements, bridge structure, figures, and rain, rendered with a focus on movement and light rather than detail, aligning with contemporary interest in atmospheric effects and the fleeting conditions of modern urban life.
History & Provenance
George Hendrik Breitner created the oil painting Bridge with Rain (also known as Rain and Wind) in 1887. The work, executed on canvas, measures 62 cm in height and 102 cm in width. While specific details regarding the original commission or the precise chain of ownership leading to current holdings are not detailed in the provided records, the artwork is currently associated with two major Dutch institutions.
It is held in the collection of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and is also linked to the Rijksmuseum.
Overview
Bridge with Rain / Rain and Wind is a 1894 oil painting by George Hendrik Breitner, a key figure in Amsterdam Impressionism. The work captures a moment of everyday life in Amsterdam during inclement weather.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts three individuals navigating a bridge in the rain, focusing on the mundane yet dynamic interaction between people and adverse weather in an urban setting.
Context
Reflecting Breitner's use of photography to capture fleeting effects, this painting combines his interest in urban realism with the expressive potential of oil painting to portray dynamic weather conditions.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Hendrik Breitner (12 September 1857 – 5 June 1923) was a Dutch painter and photographer.
