The Bridge

The artwork The Bridge is a painting created by François Boucher in 1751. The artwork is housed in the Department of Paintings of the Louvre. The painting is 0.66 x 0.845 meters.

The painting depicts a serene pastoral scene. A stone bridge, with two arches visible, spans a gentle stream. The bridge is partially in ruins, with missing bricks and stones adding to its rustic charm.

On the left side of the bridge, a figure in red attends to a white cow. The cow appears to be crossing the bridge, heading towards the viewer.

On the right side of the bridge, a woman in a white and blue dress stands on the bank, leaning on a long stick. She appears to be watching over a small child playing nearby. A brown and white dog stands close to the water's edge, its attention drawn to something in the stream.

The scene is framed by lush foliage. Tall trees with full canopies dominate the background, their leaves rendered in various shades of green and brown. Smaller trees and bushes fill the foreground, creating a sense of depth and enclosure. The sky above is a pale blue, hinting at a peaceful day. The overall atmosphere is one of tranquility and rural simplicity.