🎨Impressionism and Post-Impressionism Unit 4 – Impressionism: Key Subjects and Themes
Impressionism emerged in 1860s Paris as artists rebelled against academic painting rules. They captured fleeting light and color in everyday scenes, using loose brushstrokes and vibrant palettes. This new approach reflected the changing urban landscape and rise of leisure activities.
Key artists like Monet, Renoir, and Pissarro developed distinctive styles, focusing on landscapes, portraits, and city life. They emphasized spontaneous observation, often painting outdoors to capture natural light. Their work initially faced criticism but eventually gained recognition, influencing future art movements.
Emerged in Paris in the 1860s as a reaction against the rigid rules of academic painting
Influenced by the Realism movement and the paintings of Gustave Courbet and Édouard Manet
Began as a loose association of artists who exhibited together, including Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Camille Pissarro
Sought to capture the fleeting effects of light, color, and atmosphere in everyday scenes
Rejected the idealized subjects and precise techniques of traditional art in favor of a more spontaneous, naturalistic approach
Inspired by the changing landscape of Paris, including the renovation of the city by Baron Haussmann and the rise of leisure activities
Influenced by the invention of portable paint tubes and the increasing availability of rail travel, which allowed artists to work outdoors more easily
Key Artists and Their Styles
Claude Monet known for his series paintings of haystacks, cathedrals, and water lilies that capture changing light and color
Pierre-Auguste Renoir celebrated for his luminous portraits and scenes of Parisian social life, often featuring vibrant colors and soft, feathery brushstrokes
Camille Pissarro considered the "father of Impressionism" for his role in organizing exhibitions and mentoring younger artists
Known for his rural landscapes and scenes of peasant life, characterized by a muted palette and loose, broken brushwork
Alfred Sisley specialized in tranquil landscapes, often featuring the rivers and canals of the Paris suburbs
Berthe Morisot one of the few prominent female Impressionists, known for her intimate domestic scenes and portraits of women
Edgar Degas famous for his paintings and sculptures of ballet dancers, racehorses, and Parisian nightlife, characterized by unusual viewpoints and cropped compositions
Gustave Caillebotte known for his urban scenes of Paris, often featuring a bird's-eye view and a sense of photographic realism
Techniques and Brushwork
Emphasized capturing the momentary and transient effects of light, color, and atmosphere
Used broken, visible brushstrokes to create a sense of movement and vitality on the canvas
Applied paint in small, distinct dabs or strokes, often leaving some of the canvas exposed
Blended colors directly on the canvas, rather than mixing them on a palette
Employed a brighter, more vibrant palette than traditional academic painting
Used complementary colors (colors opposite each other on the color wheel) to create contrast and intensity
Experimented with different brushes and tools, such as palette knives, to create varied textures and effects
Often worked outdoors (en plein air) to directly observe and capture the effects of natural light
Light and Color Theory
Focused on capturing the changing effects of natural light throughout the day and in different weather conditions
Observed how light could break down forms and dissolve solid objects into a play of color and atmosphere
Used color to create the illusion of light and depth, rather than relying on traditional shading techniques
Explored the use of complementary colors to create contrast and vibrancy
Juxtaposed small dabs of pure color to create a shimmering, luminous effect (optical mixing)
Emphasized the use of blue and purple shadows, rather than the traditional brown or black
Captured the reflection of light on water, snow, and other surfaces
Depicted the unique quality of light in different seasons and times of day (e.g., the soft, diffused light of spring or the golden glow of sunset)
Common Subjects and Themes
Focused on everyday life and leisure activities, such as cafes, parks, and boating scenes
Depicted the changing landscape of Paris, including the newly renovated boulevards, bridges, and train stations
Captured the effects of industrialization and modernization on the city and its inhabitants
Celebrated the beauty of nature, particularly in rural landscapes and gardens
Explored the theme of modernity, as seen in the fashion, transportation, and entertainment of the time
Portrayed intimate domestic scenes and the private lives of women, often in interiors or gardens
Depicted the working class and the lives of ordinary people, such as laborers, farmers, and servants
Captured the vibrant nightlife of Paris, including cafes, cabarets, and theaters
Exhibitions and Public Reception
Held their first group exhibition in 1874 at the studio of photographer Nadar, which included works by Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, and others
Faced initial rejection and ridicule from the art establishment and critics, who found their work unfinished, sketchy, and lacking in traditional skill
Gradually gained acceptance and support from a small group of collectors, dealers, and critics, such as Louis Leroy, who coined the term "Impressionism" in a satirical review
Continued to exhibit together in seven more shows between 1876 and 1886, despite financial struggles and internal conflicts
Influenced the rise of independent art exhibitions and challenged the dominance of the official Salon system
Eventually achieved commercial success and critical recognition, with many of the artists gaining international fame and fortune by the end of their careers
Paved the way for the acceptance of modern art and the idea of the avant-garde in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
Influence on Later Art Movements
Inspired the development of Post-Impressionism, a term coined by critic Roger Fry to describe the work of artists such as Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, and Paul Gauguin
These artists built on the innovations of Impressionism but sought to express more personal, emotional, and symbolic content in their work
Influenced the rise of Neo-Impressionism, a movement led by Georges Seurat and Paul Signac that used scientific color theory and pointillist techniques to create highly structured, luminous compositions
Paved the way for the development of Fauvism, a movement characterized by bold, expressive colors and simplified forms, as seen in the work of Henri Matisse and André Derain
Contributed to the emergence of Cubism, a revolutionary style that broke down forms into geometric planes and challenged traditional perspective, as pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque
Inspired the use of bright, pure colors and expressive brushwork in German Expressionism, as seen in the work of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Emil Nolde
Influenced the development of American Impressionism, a movement that adapted the style to the unique light and landscape of the United States, as seen in the work of Childe Hassam and John Singer Sargent
Notable Works and Where to See Them
Claude Monet's "Impression, Sunrise" (1872) at the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, the painting that gave the movement its name
Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "Luncheon of the Boating Party" (1880-1881) at the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., a masterpiece of Impressionist social scenes
Camille Pissarro's "Boulevard Montmartre, Spring" (1897) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, a classic example of his urban landscapes
Alfred Sisley's "The Bridge at Villeneuve-la-Garenne" (1872) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, a serene depiction of the Paris suburbs
Berthe Morisot's "The Cradle" (1872) at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, an intimate portrait of motherhood and domestic life
Edgar Degas' "The Dance Class" (1873-1876) at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, a quintessential example of his ballet dancer paintings
Gustave Caillebotte's "Paris Street; Rainy Day" (1877) at the Art Institute of Chicago, a monumental urban scene with photographic realism
Édouard Manet's "Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe" (Luncheon on the Grass) (1863) at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, a scandalous and groundbreaking work that paved the way for Impressionism