🎨Impressionism and Post-Impressionism Unit 11 – Impressionism vs. Post-Impressionism

What's the Deal with Impressionism?

• Originated in Paris, France in the 1860s as a radical departure from traditional art
• Focused on capturing fleeting moments, light, and movement rather than realistic details
• Emphasized the artist's perception and personal expression over strict adherence to academic rules
• Painted outdoors (en plein air) to directly observe and capture the effects of light and color in nature
• Rejected the highly polished, idealized subjects favored by the art establishment (Académie des Beaux-Arts)
• Embraced modernity, depicting everyday scenes and subjects from contemporary life (cafes, gardens, leisure activities)
• Initially faced harsh criticism and rejection from the art establishment for their unconventional techniques and subject matter
• Paved the way for modern art by challenging traditional notions of what constitutes art and how it should be created

Key Players in the Impressionist Game

• Claude Monet: Known for his series paintings of haystacks, water lilies, and Rouen Cathedral; captured the changing effects of light
• Pierre-Auguste Renoir: Celebrated beauty, especially in his portraits and scenes of leisure; known for his use of vibrant colors and soft, feathery brushstrokes
• Camille Pissarro: Considered the "father of Impressionism"; mentored younger artists; painted rural and urban landscapes
• Edgar Degas: Focused on capturing movement in his paintings and sculptures of dancers, racehorses, and everyday scenes
• Alfred Sisley: Primarily painted landscapes, capturing the subtle changes in atmosphere and light
• Berthe Morisot: One of the few prominent female Impressionists; known for her intimate, domestic scenes and portraits
• Gustave Caillebotte: Painted urban scenes and interiors; also provided financial support to fellow Impressionists
• Édouard Manet: Not officially an Impressionist but influenced the movement; known for his bold, flat colors and unconventional compositions

Techniques That Made Impressionism Pop

• Loose, visible brushstrokes that emphasized the artist's hand and the painting process itself
• Pure, unmixed colors applied directly on the canvas, allowing them to optically blend in the viewer's eye
• Use of complementary colors to create contrast and vibrancy
• Painting wet-on-wet (alla prima) to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere
• Broken color: Applying small dabs or patches of color side by side to create a shimmering, vibrant effect
• Emphasis on the overall impression rather than precise details
• Experimentation with unusual visual angles and cropped compositions, inspired by the rise of photography
• Use of light, loose brushwork to convey a sense of spontaneity and immediacy

How Impressionism Shook Things Up

• Challenged the traditional hierarchy of subject matter, elevating everyday scenes and subjects to the status of high art
• Rejected the idealized, historical, and mythological subjects favored by the academic art establishment
• Embraced modernity and the changing world around them, capturing the essence of contemporary life
• Emphasized the artist's individual perception and personal expression over strict adherence to academic rules and conventions
• Paved the way for the acceptance of non-representational art by focusing on the artist's subjective experience rather than objective reality
• Influenced the development of future art movements, such as Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, and Cubism
• Expanded the range of subject matter considered appropriate for art, including scenes of leisure, urban life, and nature
• Democratized art by making it more accessible and relatable to a wider audience

Post-Impressionism: The Remix

• Developed in the 1880s and 1890s as a reaction to and extension of Impressionism
• Artists sought to move beyond the limitations of Impressionism while still building on its innovations
• Emphasized personal expression, symbolism, and emotion over the Impressionists' focus on capturing fleeting moments
• Explored new ways of using color, form, and composition to convey inner experiences and ideas
• Incorporated influences from other cultures, such as Japanese woodblock prints and African art
• Paved the way for the development of abstract art by further breaking down traditional artistic conventions
• Included a diverse range of artistic styles and approaches, united by a desire to push the boundaries of art
• Laid the groundwork for the emergence of modernist art movements in the early 20th century

Post-Impressionist All-Stars

• Vincent van Gogh: Known for his expressive, vibrant colors and dynamic, swirling brushstrokes; painted landscapes, still lifes, and portraits that conveyed his inner turmoil
• Paul Cézanne: Pioneered the use of geometric forms and multiple perspectives; influenced the development of Cubism
• Paul Gauguin: Sought to escape the modern world; known for his bold, flat colors and symbolic, often primitivist subjects inspired by his travels to Tahiti
• Georges Seurat: Developed the technique of Pointillism, applying small dots of pure color to create luminous, shimmering effects
• Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec: Captured the vibrant nightlife of Paris in his posters and paintings of cabarets, dancers, and entertainers
• Henri Rousseau: Self-taught artist known for his naive, dream-like jungle scenes and portraits
• Émile Bernard: Pioneered the Cloisonnist style, using flat areas of color bounded by dark outlines; influenced the development of Synthetism
• Paul Signac: Along with Seurat, developed and promoted the technique of Pointillism; painted luminous landscapes and seascapes

Comparing Impressionism and Post-Impressionism

• Both movements challenged traditional artistic conventions and paved the way for the development of modern art
• Impressionism focused on capturing fleeting moments and the effects of light, while Post-Impressionism emphasized personal expression and emotion
• Impressionists used loose, visible brushstrokes and pure colors to create an overall impression, while Post-Impressionists experimented with various techniques and styles to convey inner experiences
• Impressionism celebrated the beauty of the modern world, while some Post-Impressionists sought to escape modernity or critique society
• Post-Impressionism incorporated influences from other cultures and laid the groundwork for abstract art, while Impressionism remained largely focused on representing the observable world
• Both movements faced initial resistance from the art establishment but eventually gained widespread recognition and influence
• Post-Impressionism encompassed a wider range of individual styles and approaches compared to the more cohesive Impressionist movement
• Impressionism emphasized the artist's perception of the external world, while Post-Impressionism focused on the artist's inner vision and personal expression

Legacy and Why It Still Matters

• Impressionism and Post-Impressionism revolutionized the art world and paved the way for the development of modern art
• The emphasis on personal expression, innovation, and challenging traditional conventions laid the groundwork for future artistic movements
• The use of bold, expressive colors and unconventional techniques expanded the possibilities of artistic expression
• The celebration of everyday life and the beauty of the modern world made art more accessible and relatable to a wider audience
• The influence of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism can be seen in various aspects of contemporary visual culture, from fine art to graphic design and advertising
• The legacy of these movements continues to inspire and inform the work of artists, designers, and creative professionals around the world
• Studying Impressionism and Post-Impressionism provides valuable insights into the historical, social, and cultural contexts that shaped the development of modern art
• The enduring popularity and appeal of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art testifies to the universal human desire for beauty, expression, and innovation in the face of a changing world