The Japanese Footbridge

By: Claude Monet, 1899

Describe

- composed of a curved bridge over a small stream surrounded by plants
- color scheme based off bluish greens
- dynamic lines, actual lines, lots of vertical lines
- mostly vertical strokes on bottom of painting
- texture of lines gets more smeared and blurry behind bridge

Interpret

- bridge looks more pronounced due to the lack of detail in vegetation behind it
- blue color sticks out compared to the green
- simple design of bridge is amplified by complex implied shapes of the vegetation designs
- eyes start at contrasting pink flowers that repeat in river then then follow thin vertical lines of vegetation under them up to the bridge
- color green unifies whole painting
- green plants sort of act like a negative shape
- shape of bridge mimics shape at the bottom of the painting

Analyze

The artist is communicating the flow and union of nature and saying to find peace in nature or to isolate oneself and enjoy the calmness of nature through the thin flowing brush strokes.
The cooler color scheme evokes feelings of peace and tranquility which also harmonizes the whole painting.

https://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg85/gg85-74796.html