View of Clichy Bridge at Asnières (Vue du pont Clichy à Asnières)

Discussion

FROM THE BARNES FOUNDATION’S CATALOG

Rousseau probably painted this view as a submission for the government-sponsored competition to decorate the new town hall in Asnières, a thriving and developed suburb eight kilometers from the center of Paris. The competition rules required local landscapes showing Asnières as a modern place for healthy leisure pursuits. The iron Clichy Bridge, the river tug, and the hot air balloon fulfill the demand for modernity, while the sailboats indicate active relaxation.

Source ↗