IMPRESSIONISM

1872- mid 1800sEmerged in the second half of 19th century among Paris-based artistsHad a tremendous impact and influence on the painting styles that followed, such as neo-impressionism, post-impressionism, fauvism, and cubism—and even the artistic styles and movements of todayCoined from the Claude Monet’s Impression, soleil levant

The term precisely captured what this group of artists sought to represent in their works: the viewer’s momentary “impression” of an image.

EUGÈNE DELACROIXFrench painter was greatly admired and emulated by the early impressionists—specifically for his use of expressive brushstrokes, his emphasis on movement rather than on clarity of form, and most of all his study of the optical effects of color. The Barque of Dante, contained a then revolutionary technique that would profoundly influence the coming impressionist movement. And it involved something as simple as droplets of water.

IMPRESSIONISM: A BREAK FROM PAST

PAINTING TRADITIONS

COLOR AND LIGHT the impressionists painted with freely brushed colors that conveyed more of a visual effect than a detailed rendering of the subject. They used short “broken” strokes that were intentionally made visible to the viewer. They also often placed pure unmixed colors side by side, rather than blended smoothly or shaded.

“EVERYDAY” SUBJECTSVentured into capturing scenes of life around them, household objects, landscape, seascape, houses, café, and buildingsThey presented ordinary people seemingly caught off-guard, doing everyday task, or at leisure or doing nothing at all

PAINTING OUTDOORS

the impressionists found that they could best capture the ever-changing effects of light on color by painting outdoors in natural light gave their works a freshness and immediacy

OPEN COMPOSITIONexperimented with unusual visual angles, sizes of objects that appeared out of proportion, off-center placement, and empty spaces on the canvas.

THE INFLUENCE OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography was in its early stages at this time as well. As it gained popularity, photography inspired impressionists to capture fleeting moments of action, whether in landscapes or in the day-to-day lives of people. But whereas camera snapshots provided objective, true-to-life images, the artists were able to offer a subjective view of their subjects, expressing their personal perceptions rather than creating exact representations. They also had the advantage of manipulating color, which photography at that time still lacked.

WHAT TO KNOW

1. How did the term impressionism originate? What did it mean?

2. In what country did this art movement begin, and in what period of history?

3. What was the significance of the painting technique used by Delacroix in the development of the impressionist style?

4. What characteristics distinguished impressionism from the art movements of the earlier centuries?

5. how was the impressionst style influenced by the early stages of photography?