The Argenteuil Bridge and the Seine

The bridge at Argenteuil had been rebuilt after the Franco-German War of 1870–71. With its massive cast-iron arches it was an impressive product of French engineering. In this audacious composition Gustave Caillebotte focused on the relationship between nature and technology. Many of the Impressionists were drawn to Argenteuil, an industrialized suburb of Paris that was also a favorite locale for sailing, offering iconic motifs of modern life.