Le Pont de l Europe by Gustave Caillebotte

In Gustave Caillebotte's Impressionist painting Le Pont de l'Europe (1876), the strong diagonal of the massive iron trusses pulls the viewer's gaze along the pedestrian path, as if joining in the random actions of Parisians out for a stroll. The cool tones of Caillebotte's palette enforce the sense of the city's fabric -- built of stone, iron, and concrete -- even in the light of a mild, sunny day.

Le Pont de l'Europe by Gustave Caillebotte is an oil on canvas (49-1/8 x 71-1/8 inches), which is on display at Musée du Petit Palais, Geneva.

Gustave Caillebotte painted Paris in all kinds of different light. In the next Impressionist painting, snow covers up the city's features and reflects the sparse winter light.

For more on Impressionist paintings, artists, and art history, see:

• Impressionism
• Vincent van Gogh
• Claude Monet