Post-Impressionism

Definition

Post-Impressionism is an artistic movement that emerged in the late 19th century as a reaction against the limitations of Impressionism. While Impressionists focused on capturing light and atmosphere with loose brushwork and color, Post-Impressionists sought to explore emotional depth, symbolic content, and the structure of form in their artworks. This movement laid the groundwork for modern art by emphasizing personal expression and the subjective experience of reality.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Post-Impressionism began in the 1880s and included artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, and Paul Gauguin, each contributing their unique style to the movement.
2. The movement is characterized by a focus on geometric forms, bold colors, and emotional resonance, pushing beyond the observational nature of Impressionism.
3. Van Gogh's work exemplified the emotional intensity of Post-Impressionism through expressive brushwork and vivid color palettes, particularly in his famous paintings like 'Starry Night'.
4. Cézanne's approach emphasized the underlying structure of objects, paving the way for Cubism by breaking down forms into geometric shapes.
5. Post-Impressionism significantly influenced subsequent art movements such as Fauvism and Expressionism, as artists continued to explore personal expression and abstraction.

Review Questions

• How did Post-Impressionism differ from Impressionism in its artistic objectives and techniques?
  • Post-Impressionism differed from Impressionism mainly in its focus on emotional expression and structural form rather than just capturing light and atmosphere. While Impressionists aimed to depict scenes as they appeared at a moment in time, Post-Impressionists like Van Gogh and Cézanne sought to convey deeper feelings and personal perspectives. This shift involved bolder colors, more defined forms, and an exploration of symbolism that moved away from the observational qualities of Impressionist works.
• Discuss how Post-Impressionism contributed to the development of modern art movements such as Cubism or Expressionism.
  • Post-Impressionism played a crucial role in the evolution of modern art by challenging traditional representation and introducing new ways of seeing. Artists like Cézanne broke down forms into basic geometric shapes, which laid the groundwork for Cubism. Meanwhile, Van Gogh's emotive use of color influenced Expressionist artists who aimed to convey emotion rather than reality. The individualistic approaches within Post-Impressionism encouraged future artists to explore abstraction and subjective experiences in their work.
• Evaluate the significance of emotional expression in Post-Impressionist artworks and its impact on viewers' perception of art.
  • Emotional expression became a central focus in Post-Impressionist artworks, profoundly affecting how viewers engaged with art. Artists like Van Gogh infused their work with personal feelings, inviting audiences to experience their inner turmoil or joy through visual means. This shift towards subjective interpretation allowed viewers to connect with art on a more personal level, moving beyond mere aesthetics to consider the artist's emotional landscape. Consequently, this emphasis on emotion paved the way for later movements that prioritized individual perspective over traditional artistic conventions.

Related terms

Impressionism: An art movement characterized by a focus on capturing fleeting moments and the effects of light, using loose brushwork and vibrant colors.

Pointillism: A technique developed by Georges Seurat, where paintings are created using small dots of color that blend together when viewed from a distance.

Symbolism: A late 19th-century artistic movement that emphasized emotion and ideas over realism, often using symbolic imagery to convey deeper meanings.