An Overview of Impressionism

The artistic movement of impressionism began in the 1860’s in Paris, France.

They were commissioned by wealthy families or by the church. Before Impressionism, artists painted portraits and historical or religious scenes. They were commissioned by wealthy families or by the church. They were paid to paint very realistic portraits or scenes, most often in subdued colors. Jacques-Louis David, 1812 Napoleon in His Study

Art became accessible to the common people. Edouard Manet, 1873 On the Beach The Impressionist painters painted whatever they wanted to, of it. and they did so for the enjoyment. Art became accessible to the common people.

Water Lilies (The Clouds) Impressionist painters went outside and painted beautiful landscapes. Claude Monet, 1903 Water Lilies (The Clouds)

Artists were no longer limited to formal portraits, nobility or religious themes, like this one. Gustave Courbet, 1849-1850 A Burial at Ornans

Dance Class at the Opéra The people in paintings were now everyday people doing everyday things. These were not famous or rich people posing. They were ordinary girls at a ballet class. Edgar Degas, 1872 Dance Class at the Opéra

Before Impressionism, artists used indoor lighting with subdued tones of yellows and browns. Dürer Albrecht, 1490 Portrait of the Artist's Father

The Impressionist artists painted their subjects outdoors. They included many bright colors and reflections in their clothing and in their skin tones. Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1876 A Girl With a Watering Can

Claude Monet , 1875 Woman with a Parasol Capture the moment ! Impressionists capture a moment in time and paint their “impression” of that moment. Notice the wide brush strokes of color. Notice all the colors and reflections in the woman’s white dress.

Alfred Sisley, 1870 - Vue du Canal Saint-Martin Impressionists showed changes in the lighting and in weather conditions.

Camille Pissarro, 1897 - Boulevard Montmartre Impressionist artist was so radical for the time that the artwork was banned from display in the traditional gallery called le salon. As a result, the impressionists began their own gallery called the Salon de Refusés (Salon for the refused.)

Impressionist artists have since gained acceptance and popularity and opened the doors for many creative modern artistic styles. Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France Guggenheim Museum, New York, USA Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain

Impressionism The impressionist style of painting is characterized chiefly by concentration on the general impression produced by a scene or object and the use of unmixed primary colors and small strokes to simulate actual reflected light. Berthe Morisot, 1872 La Berceuse