“Embankment of the Seine River” Parisian Cityscape Oil Painting by Pierre Giraud

Pierre Giraud’s “Embankment of the Seine River” Parisian cityscape, portraying the iconic Pont au Change bridge, offers a mesmerizing scene at dusk.
A mastering execution of chiaroscuro. The sunset illuminates select points across the canvas—a subtle touch accentuating the facades of buildings across La Conciergerie on the Île de la Cité and a passing white riverboat beneath the bridge’s archway.

The canvas pulsates with the city’s evening fervor, capturing the lively traffic traversing the bridge. Yet, amidst this urban hustle, the left foreground presents a serene contrast—the quiet embankment of Pont au Change marked by leafless trees hinting at the impending winter.
The Pont au Change holds historical significance, having witnessed multiple iterations since the 12th century when goldsmiths and money changers once lined its structure. The current bridge was erected between 1858 and 1860.
Pierre Giraud (1913-1988) is a Postwar artist.