Have you heard the expression, “the best of both worlds”? It describes
a situation where you get the benefits of two different things without
the downsides. In Crossing the Bridge by French artist Albert Besnard
(1849–1934), we see this idea at work: the harmonious union between
traditional academic art-making and an experimental style of art
called Impressionism.

Known as a “Master of Light and Shadow” by his peers, Albert was a painter
and engraver. He started his training in an art academy where students
learned to follow strict rules and studied the works of famous artists
from the past. They were often instructed to create art that looked as
real as possible. However, this did not speak to Albert’s bold imagination.
He broke away from his academic teachings and became interested
in Impressionism, an artistic style where artists try to capture the feeling
or “impression” of a moment rather than making a perfectly detailed
image. Impressionists were fascinated by how light changes what we
see. Albert blended two worlds—applying techniques from his academic
studies with his interest in light and experimental color—to create a
unique style all his own.

Crossing the Bridge shows a laundress walking across a bridge, illuminated
by a soft, radiant glow. Albert’s creative use of color captures a dreamy,
peaceful feeling. On the surface, it looks like a beautiful moment of
everyday life. However, beneath the delicate colors of this backdrop
there are remnants of a less-than-ideal truth. We can imagine the heavy
bundle on her back and the hard work that fills her day. If you’re
unfamiliar with the lives of laundresses, look at the September 2025
Art-to-Go to learn more.

Activities

• The way light affects color is a key characteristic of Impressionist art.
  Artists often depicted the same scenes in different lighting. As a class,
  observe what the classroom looks like with the lights on. Ask students
  to describe what they see and how it makes them feel. Turn the lights
  off and do the same. Have students compare their feelings between
  lights on and off, encourage them to share their observations.
• Have students write an Impressionist story. Invite students to make
  observations about the artwork. Then encourage them to write a
  short story focusing on how the painting makes them feel versus what
  they see.