Light in Art: The Impressionists and the Arrival of Photography

Here we're looking at one of Claude Monet's iconic works: Charing Cross Bridge, the Thames. By stepping out of their studios, Impressionist painters made visible the subtle variations of natural light.

In 1903, Claude Monet painted a series of 13 canvases depicting the view of the Thames from his hotel room. Through the London fog, we can make out a bridge, a train, and Parliament.

To convey a luminous atmosphere, Impressionists used colors that didn't exactly match reality. On the water's surface, Monet used yellow, red, blue, and more to create the sensation of reflection.

In 1839, photography was born. To take a photograph, one had to protect the darkroom from all light that might enter and isolate the sensitive plate the photographer had prepared. Models had to remain still for several minutes.

Pascal Dagnan-Bouveret painted A Wedding at the Photographer's in 1879. The artist wanted to prove that his mastery of painting could rival photography. The creation of this painting was a reaction to this new medium.

In this painting, the glass roof is a central element of the work. The play of light is reflected in the windowpanes to the right on the door, the parquet floor, and at the base of the armchair and umbrella.