Glossary

5.7 Impressionism and Post-Impressionism

11 min read•august 21, 2024

and revolutionized art in the late 19th century. These movements broke from traditional academic styles, focusing on , atmosphere, and modern life. Artists like Monet and Renoir used innovative techniques to depict everyday scenes with vibrant colors and loose brushwork.

Post-Impressionists like Van Gogh and Cézanne built on these ideas, adding more structure and emotional depth. They explored new ways to represent reality, using color and form symbolically. These movements laid the groundwork for 20th-century art, influencing Cubism, Expressionism, and abstract styles.

Origins of Impressionism

  • Emerged in late 19th century France as a radical departure from traditional academic painting styles
  • Reflected broader cultural shifts towards modernity, urbanization, and scientific advancements
  • Challenged established artistic conventions and paved the way for new forms of visual expression

Historical context

Top images from around the web for Historical context

  • Siempre nos quedará París. 150 años de la Comuna Revolucionaria | www.briega.org View original

    Is this image relevant?

  • Impressionismo – Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre View original

    Is this image relevant?

  • Siempre nos quedará París. 150 años de la Comuna Revolucionaria | www.briega.org View original

    Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Historical context

  • Siempre nos quedará París. 150 años de la Comuna Revolucionaria | www.briega.org View original

    Is this image relevant?

  • Impressionismo – Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre View original

    Is this image relevant?

  • Siempre nos quedará París. 150 años de la Comuna Revolucionaria | www.briega.org View original

    Is this image relevant?

1 of 3
  • Developed during the Second French Empire and early Third Republic (1860s-1880s)
  • Coincided with rapid industrialization and urban growth in Paris
  • Influenced by the social and political upheavals of the time (Franco-Prussian War, Paris Commune)
  • Responded to the rise of the bourgeoisie and changing patterns of leisure and consumption

Influence of photography

  • Invention of photography in 1839 challenged painters to reconsider their role and approach
  • Inspired artists to capture fleeting moments and atmospheric effects
  • Influenced compositional techniques (cropping, unusual angles, snapshot-like views)
  • Encouraged a focus on the play of light and shadow in scenes

Rejection of academic traditions

  • Challenged the rigid rules and hierarchies of the of Fine Arts
  • Rejected historical, mythological, and religious subjects favored by academic painters
  • Abandoned highly finished, polished surfaces for more spontaneous brushwork
  • Embraced contemporary subjects and scenes from everyday life
  • Organized independent exhibitions outside the official Salon system (, Impressionist exhibitions)

Key Impressionist artists

  • Represented a diverse group of painters who shared similar artistic goals and techniques
  • Collaborated and exhibited together, forming a loose artistic movement
  • Each developed unique styles and subjects within the broader Impressionist approach

Claude Monet

  • Considered the quintessential Impressionist painter
  • Famous for his series paintings exploring the effects of light on a single subject (Haystacks, Rouen Cathedral)
  • Pioneered the use of and to capture atmospheric effects
  • Created the iconic "" (1872) which gave the movement its name
  • Later works ( series) approached abstraction and influenced 20th-century art

Pierre-Auguste Renoir

  • Known for his vibrant color palette and joyful depictions of modern life
  • Focused on portraits, scenes of leisure, and the female figure
  • Developed a technique of feathery brushstrokes to create a sense of movement and light
  • Notable works include "" and "Dance at the Moulin de la Galette"
  • Later style evolved towards a more classical approach, influenced by Renaissance art

Edgar Degas

  • Specialized in scenes of urban life, particularly ballet dancers and horse racing
  • Employed unconventional compositions and viewpoints influenced by photography and Japanese prints
  • Experimented with various media, including pastels, monotypes, and sculpture
  • Known for his meticulous draftsmanship and ability to capture movement
  • Famous works include "" and "L'Absinthe"

Camille Pissarro

  • Often called the "dean of the Impressionist painters" due to his mentorship of younger artists
  • Focused on rural and urban landscapes, particularly scenes of peasant life
  • Experimented with various Post-Impressionist styles later in his career (, )
  • Played a crucial role in organizing the Impressionist exhibitions
  • Notable works include "Boulevard Montmartre" series and "The Red Roofs"

Characteristics of Impressionism

  • Defined by a set of shared artistic principles and techniques
  • Aimed to capture the visual effects of light and atmosphere in the natural world
  • Emphasized the immediacy of perception and the fleeting nature of modern life
  • Revolutionized the way artists approached color, composition, and subject matter

Emphasis on light

  • Focused on depicting the changing qualities of light throughout the day
  • Used a brighter, more vibrant palette than traditional academic painting
  • Eliminated black from the palette, using complementary colors for shadows
  • Captured the effects of sunlight, reflections, and atmospheric conditions
  • Explored how light affects the perception of color and form in nature

Loose brushwork

  • Employed visible, expressive brushstrokes to convey a sense of spontaneity
  • Used short, choppy strokes (impasto technique) to create texture and movement
  • Abandoned smooth blending in favor of a more dynamic surface quality
  • Aimed to capture the artist's immediate visual impressions of a scene
  • Allowed the viewer to participate in the creation of the image through optical mixing

Everyday subjects

  • Focused on scenes from modern life rather than historical or mythological themes
  • Depicted urban landscapes, cafes, theaters, and public gardens
  • Portrayed leisure activities of the middle class (boating, picnics, promenades)
  • Included industrial subjects (railways, factories) as symbols of modernity
  • Elevated ordinary, seemingly insignificant moments to the status of fine art

Plein air painting

  • Emphasized working outdoors directly from nature (en plein air)
  • Used portable easels and pre-mixed paints in tubes to facilitate outdoor painting
  • Aimed to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere in real-time
  • Challenged traditional studio practices and academic finish
  • Resulted in a more spontaneous, sketch-like quality in finished works

Impressionist techniques

  • Developed innovative approaches to color and brushwork
  • Aimed to recreate the visual experience of light and atmosphere on canvas
  • Influenced by scientific theories of color and optics
  • Emphasized the primacy of visual perception over intellectual or narrative content

Color theory

  • Influenced by the color theories of Michel Eugène Chevreul and Ogden Rood
  • Explored the principles of simultaneous contrast and complementary colors
  • Used pure, unmixed colors applied directly to the canvas
  • Avoided using black, creating shadows with complementary colors instead
  • Aimed to achieve greater luminosity and vibrancy in their paintings

Broken color

  • Applied small, distinct brushstrokes of pure color side by side on the canvas
  • Allowed colors to optically mix in the viewer's eye rather than on the palette
  • Created a vibrant, shimmering effect that mimicked the play of light in nature
  • Varied the size and direction of brushstrokes to convey different textures and forms
  • Resulted in a more dynamic and energetic surface quality compared to traditional techniques

Optical mixing

  • Relied on the viewer's eye to blend adjacent colors visually
  • Placed complementary colors next to each other to create vibrant effects
  • Used juxtaposition of warm and cool tones to suggest depth and atmosphere
  • Exploited the principle that colors appear to change when placed next to others
  • Anticipated later developments in Neo-Impressionism and

Themes in Impressionist art

  • Reflected the changing social and cultural landscape of late 19th-century France
  • Focused on capturing the fleeting moments and sensations of modern life
  • Explored the relationship between humans and their environment, both natural and urban
  • Celebrated the beauty and complexity of everyday experiences

Modern urban life

  • Depicted the newly renovated Paris with its wide boulevards and modern architecture
  • Captured the energy and dynamism of city life (cafes, theaters, train stations)
  • Portrayed the changing social dynamics of urban spaces
  • Explored the effects of industrialization and technological progress
  • Included scenes of work and commerce alongside leisure activities

Leisure activities

  • Focused on the emerging culture of leisure among the middle class
  • Depicted popular recreational activities (boating, picnics, dances, horse races)
  • Explored the social rituals and fashions of the bourgeoisie
  • Captured the atmosphere of public gardens, beaches, and resort towns
  • Reflected changing attitudes towards nature and outdoor pursuits

Nature and landscapes

  • Emphasized the direct observation of nature and atmospheric effects
  • Depicted rural landscapes, seascapes, and gardens
  • Explored the changing relationship between humans and the natural world
  • Captured the effects of different seasons, weather conditions, and times of day
  • Included both cultivated landscapes (gardens, parks) and wild, untamed nature

Post-Impressionism: Overview

  • Emerged in the 1880s and 1890s as a response to and extension of Impressionism
  • Encompassed a diverse range of artistic styles and approaches
  • Sought to move beyond the purely visual concerns of Impressionism
  • Explored more subjective and expressive modes of representation
  • Laid the groundwork for many of the avant-garde movements of the 20th century

Reaction to Impressionism

  • Retained some Impressionist techniques while rejecting others
  • Sought to bring greater structure and form to painting
  • Explored more subjective and emotional approaches to color and composition
  • Reintroduced symbolic and narrative elements into painting
  • Aimed to create art with deeper intellectual and emotional content

Emphasis on structure

  • Focused on the underlying geometric forms and structures in nature
  • Explored ways to represent three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface
  • Experimented with flattening and distorting forms for expressive effect
  • Developed more systematic approaches to composition and color
  • Influenced by non-Western art forms (Japanese prints, African sculpture)

Symbolic and emotional content

  • Moved beyond the purely visual concerns of Impressionism
  • Used color and form to express emotional and psychological states
  • Incorporated symbolic elements and personal iconography
  • Explored themes of spirituality, primitivism, and the unconscious
  • Sought to create art that communicated deeper truths about human experience

Major Post-Impressionist artists

  • Represented a diverse group of painters with distinct styles and approaches
  • Shared a desire to move beyond the limitations of Impressionism
  • Developed innovative techniques that influenced 20th-century art movements
  • Explored new ways of representing reality and expressing inner visions

Paul Cézanne

  • Focused on creating a sense of structure and solidity in his paintings
  • Developed a technique of building form through color planes
  • Explored the underlying geometric shapes in nature (Mont Sainte-Victoire series)
  • Influenced the development of Cubism with his late works
  • Famous for his still lifes, landscapes, and bathers series

Vincent van Gogh

  • Known for his bold, expressive use of color and brushwork
  • Developed a highly personal style characterized by intense emotions
  • Created landscapes, portraits, and still lifes with a strong spiritual dimension
  • Famous works include "The ," "Sunflowers," and "The Potato Eaters"
  • His tragic life story and prolific output have made him an iconic figure in art history

Paul Gauguin

  • Sought to create a more primitive, symbolic form of art
  • Developed a style characterized by flat areas of bold color and strong outlines
  • Explored themes of exoticism and spirituality in his Tahitian paintings
  • Influenced the development of Synthetism and
  • Notable works include "" and "Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?"

Georges Seurat

  • Developed the technique of Pointillism (also called Divisionism)
  • Created paintings using tiny dots of pure color applied in a precise, scientific manner
  • Explored the optical effects of color juxtaposition
  • Famous for ""
  • Influenced the development of Neo-Impressionism and later

Post-Impressionist styles

  • Encompassed a range of artistic approaches that built upon and diverged from Impressionism
  • Explored new ways of organizing color and form on the canvas
  • Influenced by scientific color theory, non-Western art, and symbolist ideas
  • Laid the groundwork for many of the avant-garde movements of the 20th century

Pointillism

  • Developed by and Paul Signac
  • Used small, distinct dots of pure color applied in a precise pattern
  • Based on scientific theories of optical color mixing
  • Aimed to create luminous effects through the juxtaposition of complementary colors
  • Influenced later developments in color theory and abstract art

Cloisonnism

  • Characterized by flat areas of color enclosed by dark outlines
  • Inspired by medieval stained glass and Japanese woodblock prints
  • Developed by Émile Bernard and Louis Anquetin
  • Adopted and popularized by
  • Emphasized the two-dimensional nature of the canvas

Synthetism

  • Sought to synthesize external appearance, the artist's emotions, and aesthetic considerations
  • Developed by Paul Gauguin and the Pont-Aven school
  • Characterized by simplified forms, bold colors, and symbolic content
  • Influenced by Japanese prints, medieval art, and folk art
  • Aimed to create a more subjective and spiritual form of art

Influence on modern art

  • Post-Impressionist innovations paved the way for many 20th-century art movements
  • Challenged traditional notions of representation and artistic purpose
  • Explored new ways of organizing color and form on the canvas
  • Influenced the development of both figurative and abstract art styles

Cubism and Fauvism

  • Cubism drew inspiration from Cézanne's approach to structure and form
  • Fauvism built upon the expressive use of color in Van Gogh and Gauguin's work
  • Both movements further abstracted and distorted natural forms
  • Cubism (Picasso, Braque) explored multiple viewpoints and fragmented forms
  • Fauvism (Matisse, Derain) emphasized bold, non-naturalistic use of color

Expressionism

  • Influenced by Van Gogh's emotional intensity and use of color
  • Developed in Germany and Austria in the early 20th century
  • Sought to express inner emotional states through distorted forms and bold colors
  • Key artists include Edvard Munch, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, and Wassily Kandinsky
  • Explored themes of anxiety, alienation, and spirituality in modern life

Abstract art

  • Post-Impressionist experiments with color and form laid the groundwork for abstraction
  • Seurat's Pointillism influenced early abstract explorations of color relationships
  • Cézanne's structural approach inspired Cubism and later geometric abstraction
  • Kandinsky's early abstract works drew on the expressive use of color in Post-Impressionism
  • Abstract art movements (De Stijl, Suprematism) further developed these ideas

Legacy of Impressionism

  • Revolutionized the way artists approached painting and representation
  • Influenced the development of modern art throughout the 20th century
  • Continues to shape contemporary artistic practices and public perceptions of art
  • Remains one of the most popular and recognizable styles in art history

Impact on art history

  • Marked a crucial turning point in the development of modern art
  • Challenged traditional academic conventions and hierarchies
  • Expanded the range of subjects considered suitable for fine art
  • Influenced the development of photography and cinema
  • Paved the way for more radical artistic experiments in the 20th century

Popularity and criticism

  • Initially met with hostility from critics and the public
  • Gradually gained acceptance and popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
  • Became widely celebrated and collected by museums and private collectors
  • Criticized by some for its perceived lack of social engagement or deeper meaning
  • Continues to be a subject of scholarly debate and reinterpretation

Influence on contemporary art

  • Techniques of broken color and optical mixing still used by many painters
  • remains popular among landscape artists
  • Emphasis on capturing fleeting moments and atmospheric effects persists in various media
  • Influence visible in contemporary approaches to color, light, and representation
  • Continues to inspire artists exploring the boundaries between abstraction and representation

Key Terms to Review (38)

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte: A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is a famous painting by Georges Seurat, created between 1884 and 1886, that exemplifies the technique of pointillism and is a significant work in the Impressionism and Post-Impressionism movements. This artwork captures a leisurely day in a park along the Seine River, showcasing various social classes enjoying their time, which reflects the changing social dynamics of Paris during the late 19th century.
Aestheticism: Aestheticism is an artistic and literary movement that emphasizes beauty, sensory experiences, and the pursuit of art for art's sake rather than for any moral or political purpose. It advocates for the appreciation of beauty in art and life, valuing aesthetics as a primary consideration over social or narrative content. This movement flourished in the late 19th century and influenced various forms of artistic expression, particularly in painting and literature.
Avant-garde: Avant-garde refers to innovative and experimental ideas or works that challenge established norms and conventions in art, literature, music, and other cultural fields. It often seeks to push boundaries and provoke thought, reflecting a break from tradition and embracing new forms of expression.
Broken color: Broken color refers to a painting technique where colors are applied in small strokes or dabs that are not blended together, creating a vibrant and textured surface. This method allows the viewer’s eye to mix the colors optically rather than physically, contributing to the overall luminosity and movement in a piece of art. This technique is especially significant in the works of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists who sought to capture light and atmosphere in their paintings.
Camille Pissarro: Camille Pissarro was a Danish-French painter born in 1830, recognized as one of the key figures in the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements. He is often regarded as the 'father of Impressionism' due to his role in developing the style and mentoring other prominent artists like Paul Cézanne and Georges Seurat. Pissarro's work is characterized by its focus on light, color, and everyday scenes, which captured the changing qualities of nature and urban life.
Capturing light: Capturing light refers to the artistic technique of representing natural light in artwork to create a sense of realism and depth. This method became particularly significant during the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements, where artists focused on how light interacts with colors and forms in their environment, reflecting fleeting moments and changing atmospheres.
Claude Monet: Claude Monet was a French painter and one of the founding figures of Impressionism, an art movement that emphasized capturing light and its changing qualities. His approach to painting involved using loose brushwork and vibrant colors to convey the effects of light on the landscape, which marked a significant departure from traditional techniques and perspectives in art.
Cloisonnism: Cloisonnism is an artistic style characterized by the use of bold outlines and flat areas of color, creating a stained glass-like effect. This technique allows artists to emphasize distinct color shapes while minimizing gradation and detail, which aligns closely with the goals of Post-Impressionism. It reflects a departure from naturalistic representation, focusing on personal expression and emotional resonance through color and form.
Color theory: Color theory is a framework that explains how colors interact, how they can be combined, and how they influence human perception and emotion. It is foundational in art and design, helping artists and creators choose color combinations that evoke certain feelings or messages, which is especially relevant in styles such as Impressionism and Post-Impressionism where color plays a critical role in expression.
Edgar Degas: Edgar Degas was a prominent French artist associated with Impressionism, known for his exceptional skill in capturing movement, particularly in ballet dancers and horses. His work often featured innovative compositions and a focus on the human figure, making him a key figure in the transition between traditional and modern art.
Exhibition of impressionists: The exhibition of impressionists refers to the display of artworks created by the Impressionist movement, which emerged in the late 19th century as a radical departure from traditional artistic conventions. These exhibitions showcased works that emphasized capturing light and movement through loose brushwork and vibrant colors, challenging established art norms and inviting public criticism and acclaim.
Formalism: Formalism is an approach that emphasizes the importance of form over content in artistic and literary works. This perspective focuses on the structural elements of a piece, such as composition, style, and technique, rather than the context or meaning behind the work. By prioritizing how something is presented, formalism seeks to analyze and appreciate art and literature based on its intrinsic qualities.
French Academy: The French Academy, formally known as the Académie Française, is an esteemed institution established in 1635 that plays a crucial role in the regulation and preservation of the French language and culture. It has significantly influenced the arts, particularly in painting and literature, and its authority shaped artistic standards during the time of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.
Georges Seurat: Georges Seurat was a French painter and a leading figure in the Post-Impressionist movement, renowned for developing the technique known as Pointillism. This method involved applying small dots of color to create images that blended together when viewed from a distance. Seurat's innovative approach to color theory and light had a lasting impact on modern art, making him a pivotal figure in the transition from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism.
Impression, Sunrise: Impression, Sunrise is a painting created by Claude Monet in 1872 that is often regarded as the work that gave Impressionism its name. The artwork captures the effects of light and atmosphere over the harbor of Le Havre at sunrise, emphasizing vibrant colors and loose brushwork that convey a sense of immediacy and transience. This painting exemplifies key characteristics of the Impressionist movement, such as an emphasis on natural light, a focus on everyday scenes, and the use of color to capture a momentary impression.
Impressionism: Impressionism is an art movement that emerged in the late 19th century, characterized by a focus on capturing light, color, and everyday subject matter through loose brushwork and a sense of spontaneity. This movement marked a significant shift from traditional techniques and themes in art, influencing modern art movements and even extending its principles into music, where similar emphasis on atmosphere and emotion can be found.
Industrial Revolution: The Industrial Revolution was a period of profound economic and social change that began in the late 18th century and continued into the 19th century, characterized by the transition from agrarian economies to industrialized ones. This transformation influenced various aspects of culture, including literature, art, architecture, and theater, reshaping how people lived and expressed themselves.
Les nabis: Les nabis were a group of post-impressionist artists in France during the late 19th century who sought to express spiritual and emotional themes through their work. They were known for their use of bold colors, flat forms, and decorative patterns, often drawing inspiration from Japanese art and symbolism. This group played a crucial role in the transition from Impressionism to more abstract styles, pushing boundaries in how art was perceived and created.
Luncheon of the Boating Party: Luncheon of the Boating Party is a famous painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, created in 1881, that exemplifies the characteristics of Impressionism through its vibrant colors and casual depiction of social interactions among friends. The artwork captures a leisurely gathering of Renoir's friends, showcasing their joyful camaraderie and the lively atmosphere of Parisian outdoor dining during the late 19th century, a hallmark of Impressionist ideals focusing on contemporary life.
Modernism: Modernism is a cultural movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a break from traditional forms of art, literature, and architecture, emphasizing innovation, experimentation, and a new worldview. This movement arose in response to the rapid changes brought about by industrialization, urbanization, and the upheaval of societal norms, leading to new ways of thinking about existence and expression across various disciplines.
Modernism: Modernism is a cultural movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a break from traditional forms and a search for new modes of expression in art, literature, music, and architecture. This movement reflects a period of rapid change, marked by industrialization, urbanization, and shifts in social and political structures. As artists and thinkers responded to the complexities of modern life, modernism sought to redefine the boundaries of creativity and challenge established norms.
Optical Mixing: Optical mixing is a technique in which colors are combined not through physical blending of pigments, but rather through the viewer's perception of colors placed in close proximity. This method is particularly significant in Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, where artists utilized small dots or strokes of color that visually blend at a distance, creating vibrant and dynamic effects on the canvas.
Paris Exposition: The Paris Exposition refers to a series of world's fairs held in Paris, showcasing the achievements of various cultures and innovations in art, science, and industry. These exhibitions played a vital role in promoting Impressionism and Post-Impressionism by providing artists with a platform to present their work to a broader audience and engage with new ideas and movements.
Paul Cézanne: Paul Cézanne was a French Post-Impressionist painter whose work laid the foundation for the transition from 19th-century Impressionism to 20th-century modern art. His innovative use of color, brushstroke, and composition challenged traditional perspectives and emphasized the underlying structure of objects, making him a pivotal figure in the evolution of art.
Paul Gauguin: Paul Gauguin was a French Post-Impressionist painter known for his bold use of color and synthetist style, which emphasized flat forms and strong colors. He is celebrated for his depictions of exotic landscapes and cultures, particularly during his time in Tahiti, which greatly influenced modern art. His work challenged the conventional techniques of Impressionism, leading to a new direction in artistic expression.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir: Pierre-Auguste Renoir was a prominent French painter known for his contributions to the Impressionist movement, which focused on capturing light and movement through vibrant colors and loose brushwork. Renoir's works often depicted scenes of leisure and social interaction, showcasing his fascination with the beauty of everyday life, particularly women and children in outdoor settings.
Plein air painting: Plein air painting is the act of painting outdoors, capturing the natural light and atmosphere of a scene in real-time. This technique emphasizes spontaneity and the direct observation of nature, which became a hallmark of the Impressionist movement, distinguishing it from traditional studio painting.
Pointillism: Pointillism is a painting technique developed in the late 19th century that uses small, distinct dots of color applied in patterns to form an image. This method is characterized by its innovative approach to color theory, where colors are blended optically rather than physically mixed on a palette, which enhances the vibrancy and luminosity of the artwork. Pointillism is closely associated with post-Impressionism, reflecting a shift from the spontaneous brushwork of Impressionism to a more systematic and scientific exploration of color.
Pointillism: Pointillism is a painting technique developed in the late 19th century that uses small, distinct dots of color applied in patterns to form an image. This method was part of the broader movement known as Post-Impressionism, where artists sought to create a sense of luminosity and depth through optical mixing of colors rather than traditional blending. Pointillism emphasizes the viewer's perception, as the dots blend visually from a distance, creating vibrant images filled with light.
Post-impressionism: Post-impressionism is an art movement that emerged in the late 19th century as a reaction against the limitations of Impressionism, focusing on personal expression and emotional depth. Artists associated with this movement sought to convey their subjective experiences through bold colors, distinct brushstrokes, and innovative forms, paving the way for modern art. The movement emphasized the importance of individual perspective and often included symbolic content, leading to a variety of styles that would influence future artistic developments.
Salon des refusés: The salon des refusés, or 'exhibition of rejects,' was an alternative art exhibition held in Paris in 1863, showcasing works that were rejected from the official Salon. It provided a platform for artists whose styles and subjects were considered unconventional or avant-garde, reflecting the growing tension between traditional artistic standards and emerging modern art movements. This event is significant in understanding the evolution of modern art, especially in relation to Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, as it highlighted the shift toward more experimental forms of expression.
Starry Night: Starry Night is a famous painting by Vincent van Gogh, created in 1889, depicting a swirling night sky filled with vibrant stars over a quiet town. This artwork is renowned for its emotional depth and bold use of color, embodying the essence of Post-Impressionism, where artists sought to express their personal feelings and perceptions rather than merely replicating reality.
Subjectivity: Subjectivity refers to how personal perspectives, feelings, and opinions shape an individual's understanding of the world. It emphasizes the unique experiences and interpretations that each person brings to their perception of reality, making it a crucial concept in art and literature, particularly in movements that prioritize personal expression and emotion over objective representation.
Synthetism: Synthetism is an artistic movement that emerged in the late 19th century, characterized by the combination of form and color to express emotions rather than depict reality. It aimed to synthesize various artistic elements, including color, line, and form, into a cohesive whole that conveyed deeper meanings and feelings. This approach contrasts with earlier movements focused on naturalistic representation, emphasizing a more subjective and personal interpretation of visual experiences.
The ballet class: The ballet class is a structured environment where dancers of various levels engage in training, focusing on techniques, movements, and choreography that embody the art of ballet. This setting serves as a foundational space for both professional and aspiring dancers, emphasizing discipline, physicality, and artistic expression through rigorous practice.
Vincent van gogh: Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter known for his expressive use of color and bold brushwork. His work, which included iconic pieces like 'Starry Night' and 'Sunflowers', was characterized by emotional intensity and a unique perspective on the world, showcasing a deep connection to nature and human emotion.
Vision After the Sermon: Vision After the Sermon is a painting by Paul Gauguin created in 1888, known for its bold colors and innovative approach to composition. It illustrates a biblical scene featuring the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel, emphasizing the spiritual experience of faith through a vision. This artwork exemplifies the transition from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism, highlighting Gauguin's departure from naturalistic representation towards more symbolic and emotive expressions.
Water lilies: Water lilies are aquatic plants known for their large, floating leaves and beautiful flowers that bloom on the water's surface. In the context of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, they represent a significant subject matter, capturing the fleeting effects of light and color on water, as well as an exploration of nature's beauty. These plants are often associated with the works of Claude Monet, who used them to convey a sense of tranquility and harmony with nature, embodying the core principles of these artistic movements.
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.
Back
Practice QuizGlossary
Practice QuizGlossary
Next guide