🎨Impressionism and Post-Impressionism Unit 7 – Post-Impressionism Emerges

What's the Deal with Post-Impressionism?

• Developed in the late 19th century as a reaction against Impressionism's limitations
• Artists sought to express emotions and ideas beyond the visual impression of a moment
• Emphasized symbolic content, personal expression, and abstract qualities in art
• Explored new ways of using color, form, and composition to convey meaning
• Laid the groundwork for many modern art movements (Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism)
• Included artists from various countries (France, Netherlands, United States)
• Spanned roughly from the mid-1880s to the early 1900s
  • Some key events: last Impressionist exhibition (1886), Van Gogh's death (1890), Cézanne's death (1906)

Key Players and Their Styles

• Paul Cézanne
  • Explored geometric forms and multiple perspectives in landscapes and still lifes
  • Influenced the development of Cubism
• Vincent van Gogh
  • Known for expressive brushwork, vibrant colors, and emotional intensity
  • Painted landscapes, self-portraits, and scenes from everyday life
• Paul Gauguin
  • Developed a style characterized by flat, bold colors and simplified forms
  • Drew inspiration from primitive art and his travels to Tahiti
• Georges Seurat
  • Pioneer of Neo-Impressionism and the pointillist technique
  • Created large-scale compositions using tiny dots of pure color
• Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
  • Captured the nightlife of Paris in his posters and paintings
  • Known for his stylized, expressive portraits and scenes from cabarets and brothels
• Henri Rousseau
  • Self-taught artist known for his naive, dream-like jungle scenes
  • Inspired Surrealists with his imaginative, unconventional style

Breaking Away from Impressionism

• Rejected the idea of capturing a fleeting moment in favor of more enduring, symbolic content
• Explored subjective experiences, emotions, and imagination in their work
• Used color and form to express ideas and feelings rather than to imitate reality
• Experimented with new techniques (pointillism, synthetism) and unconventional compositions
• Drew inspiration from various sources (primitive art, Japanese prints, personal experiences)
• Paved the way for the development of abstract art and modernism

Techniques and Approaches

• Pointillism (Seurat): creating images using tiny dots of pure color
  • Relies on the viewer's eye to blend the colors optically
• Synthetism (Gauguin): simplifying forms and using flat, bold colors to create symbolic, decorative compositions
• Cloisonnism: outlining forms with dark contours, similar to medieval cloisonné enamel work
• Impasto: applying thick layers of paint to create texture and depth
• Expressionistic brushwork: using visible, energetic brush strokes to convey emotions
• Unconventional perspectives and compositions: breaking away from traditional rules of perspective and arrangement

Famous Works You Should Know

• "The Starry Night" (1889) by Vincent van Gogh
  • Iconic depiction of a swirling night sky over a small village
• "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" (1884-1886) by Georges Seurat
  • Large-scale pointillist masterpiece showing Parisians relaxing in a park
• "Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?" (1897-1898) by Paul Gauguin
  • Monumental, symbolic work exploring the meaning of life, created during his time in Tahiti
• "The Card Players" (1890-1895) by Paul Cézanne
  • Series of paintings depicting peasants playing cards, showcasing Cézanne's interest in geometric forms
• "At the Moulin Rouge" (1892-1895) by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
  • Iconic poster capturing the energy and atmosphere of the famous Parisian cabaret
• "The Sleeping Gypsy" (1897) by Henri Rousseau
  • Dream-like scene featuring a sleeping figure, a lion, and a moonlit landscape

Impact on Modern Art

• Influenced the development of various modern art movements
  • Fauvism: inspired by the expressive use of color and simplified forms
  • Expressionism: drew from the emotional intensity and subjective approach
  • Cubism: built upon Cézanne's exploration of geometric forms and multiple perspectives
• Challenged traditional notions of art and paved the way for abstraction
• Encouraged artists to express their inner visions and emotions through their work
• Broadened the range of subject matter and techniques considered acceptable in art
• Contributed to the idea of the artist as an individual creator, free from academic conventions

Why It Matters Today

• Represents a crucial turning point in the history of art, bridging Impressionism and modernism
• Demonstrates the importance of personal expression, imagination, and innovation in art
• Highlights the role of art in challenging societal norms and pushing boundaries
• Provides insight into the cultural, social, and intellectual context of the late 19th century
• Continues to inspire and influence contemporary artists across various media
• Offers valuable lessons on creativity, self-expression, and the power of art to communicate ideas and emotions

Extra Bits and Fun Facts

• Vincent van Gogh sold only one painting during his lifetime, "The Red Vineyard" (1888)
• Paul Gauguin was a successful stockbroker before becoming a full-time artist
• Georges Seurat's pointillist technique was inspired by scientific theories of color and perception
• Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was known for his short stature, likely due to a genetic disorder
• Henri Rousseau worked as a toll collector and taught himself to paint in his spare time
• The term "Post-Impressionism" was coined by British art critic Roger Fry in 1910
• Many Post-Impressionist artists struggled with mental health issues and faced financial difficulties during their lifetimes
• The Post-Impressionist era coincided with the rise of photography and the advent of modern art movements