1. Impressionism Unit 1 – Section 2

2. Impact of Japanese Prints in Europe & America Japanese, European & American artists became interested in each other’s art in the late 19 th & early 20 th century. Japanese, European & American artists became interested in each other’s art in the late 19 th & early 20 th century. Japanese art was introduced to the U. S. in 1876 at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. Japanese art was introduced to the U. S. in 1876 at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. Japonisme: Japonisme: the interest in & imitation of Japanese art & culture, spread as artwork was imported to Europe & America the interest in & imitation of Japanese art & culture, spread as artwork was imported to Europe & America

3. Impact on Major Artists & Movements in Europe & U.S. Impressionists Eduoard Manet People, usually outdoors Claude Monet Landscapes, especially ponds & water lilies Edgar Degas Ballerinas Mary Cassatt Mother/child paintings Mother/child paintings collected works by Hokusai & Hiroshige collected works by Hokusai & Hiroshige

4. Music in the Tuileries Gardens by Eduoard Manet

5. Luncheon on the Grass, Manet

6. Olympia, Manet

7. Weeping Willow, Claude Monet

8. Water Lily Pond & Weeping Willow, Claude Monet

9. Poplars (in autumn), Claude Monet

10. Ballerina Posing for a Photograph, Edgar Degas

11. The Dance Class, Edgar Degas

12. Stage Rehearsal, Degas

13. Breakfast in Bed, Mary Cassatt

14. Young Mother, by Mary Cassatt

15. The Bath, Mary Cassatt, 1891

16. Post-Impressionists Vincent Van Gogh painted oil copies of prints by Hiroshige painted oil copies of prints by Hiroshige the Aesthetic Movement in England & U.S. the Aesthetic Movement in England & U.S. James Whistler James Whistler American born, raised in England American born, raised in England a major force behind japonisme; & a major force behind japonisme; & the Arts & Crafts Movement the Arts & Crafts Movement

17. Sunflowers, Van Gogh

18. Whistler’s Mother, James Whistler

19. American Impressionists Traveled in Europe & studied French Impressionist art. Artists include: William Merritt Chase Theodore Robinson John Twachtman, & Childe Hassam

20. Idle Hours, Chase William Merritt

21. Milkmaid, Theodore Robinson

22. Summer, John Twachtman

23. Washington Arch, Childe Hassam

24. About Impressionism “ Trees are Not Violet; The Sky is Not Butter!” Until the 1860s, European painters often painted idealized people & events from: Until the 1860s, European painters often painted idealized people & events from: the Bible, the Bible, mythology, mythology, or history. or history. In contrast, Impressionist paintings often depicted ordinary situations. In contrast, Impressionist paintings often depicted ordinary situations.

25. A critic coined the label “Impressionist.” after seeing Monet’s Impression Sunrise A critic coined the label “Impressionist.” after seeing Monet’s Impression Sunrise “Impression! Wallpaper… is more finished!” Within a year, the name Impressionism was an accepted term in the art world. “Impression! Wallpaper… is more finished!” Within a year, the name Impressionism was an accepted term in the art world. Critics & many people felt that Impressionists couldn’t draw & their color showed lack of taste or an understanding of rules of painting. Critics & many people felt that Impressionists couldn’t draw & their color showed lack of taste or an understanding of rules of painting. Critics Opinion About Impressionists

26. Impression Sunrise, Monet, 1872

27. Impressionists Most Impressionists were born middle class, & that was the world they painted Most Impressionists were born middle class, & that was the world they painted People at work & play People at work & play Especially interested in: Use of light Use of light The outdoors/nature The outdoors/nature

28. Industrial Revolution Era The steam engine, power loom, camera, streetlights, ready-made fashions, steel & cast iron changed people’s lives The steam engine, power loom, camera, streetlights, ready-made fashions, steel & cast iron changed people’s lives Belief that technological progress was key to all human progress Belief that technological progress was key to all human progress In this climate of discovery, people felt they could do anything In this climate of discovery, people felt they could do anything

29. Busy City Settings Monet immortalized Paris railroad stations Monet immortalized Paris railroad stations Nearly all the Impressionist artists painted people hurrying through busy streets & enjoying their leisure time Nearly all the Impressionist artists painted people hurrying through busy streets & enjoying their leisure time on the boulevard, on the boulevard, at the racetrack, at the racetrack, in cafés/restaurants in cafés/restaurants concerts, concerts, shops, & shops, & parks parks

30. Quiet Countryside Settings Railroads gave people a new mobility Railroads gave people a new mobility Could be in the country in an hour Could be in the country in an hour Commuters escaped the crowded city to the suburbs Commuters escaped the crowded city to the suburbs The Seine River, parks, & gardens provided recreation for weekend: The Seine River, parks, & gardens provided recreation for weekend: picnickers, picnickers, swimmers, & swimmers, & boat parties, which the Impressionists painted boat parties, which the Impressionists painted

31. A Key to Impressionism’s Popularity The artist often put the viewer in the position of someone on holiday enjoying a beautiful scene The artist often put the viewer in the position of someone on holiday enjoying a beautiful scene Monet never painted weekdays Monet never painted weekdays The garden was central to late 19th century life The garden was central to late 19th century life Monet & others often painted their gardens. Monet & others often painted their gardens. Monet called his flowerbeds “my most beautiful work of art.” Monet called his flowerbeds “my most beautiful work of art.”

32. En Plein Air – “Outdoors” Gestural & suggestive use of oil paint was presented as a finished work of art Gestural & suggestive use of oil paint was presented as a finished work of art Worked directly & spontaneously from nature Worked directly & spontaneously from nature Recorded initial sensory reactions Recorded initial sensory reactions Monet believed that the first real look was the truest Monet believed that the first real look was the truest Landscapes often contained people, or man- made structures Landscapes often contained people, or man- made structures

34. People in Impressionist Paintings Candid or natural not posed Candid or natural not posed As if artist & viewers are watching a private, contemplative moment. As if artist & viewers are watching a private, contemplative moment. Men, women, & children are depicted floating in a rowboat, strolling under the trees, or just watching the river flow. Men, women, & children are depicted floating in a rowboat, strolling under the trees, or just watching the river flow.

35. Impressionist Techniques “The Painter of the Passing Moment” Often painted the same scene at different times & in different weather (shiki-e) Often painted the same scene at different times & in different weather (shiki-e) Worked fast to capture the moment before the light changed Worked fast to capture the moment before the light changed Quick sketches in pencil or diluted oil paint on location Quick sketches in pencil or diluted oil paint on location A distinctive style of rapid, broken brushstrokes: A distinctive style of rapid, broken brushstrokes: lines for people on a busy street, or specks to re-create flowers in a meadow. lines for people on a busy street, or specks to re-create flowers in a meadow.

36. Texture & Color Applied paint thickly creating a rough texture on the canvas Applied paint thickly creating a rough texture on the canvas Impressionists mixed colors on the canvas or stroked on the hues next to each other & let the viewer’s eye do the blending Impressionists mixed colors on the canvas or stroked on the hues next to each other & let the viewer’s eye do the blending Process was called optical color mixing Process was called optical color mixing Sketchy technique suggest motion & captured the shimmering effects of light Sketchy technique suggest motion & captured the shimmering effects of light Wanted work to look almost accidental Wanted work to look almost accidental Sunlight & the hues of nature, bolder, lighter colors than classical studio art Sunlight & the hues of nature, bolder, lighter colors than classical studio art

37. Krakatoa Eruption 1883 “Son of Krakatau”

38. Krakatoa Brilliantly colored sunsets & prolonged twilights were noted all over the world after the August 1883 eruption of Krakatau, Indonesia, Brilliantly colored sunsets & prolonged twilights were noted all over the world after the August 1883 eruption of Krakatau, Indonesia, as the result of the global spread of aerosols from the eruption throughout the stratosphere as the result of the global spread of aerosols from the eruption throughout the stratosphere Distinct from the familiar red sunsets seen through London's smoke-laden atmosphere Distinct from the familiar red sunsets seen through London's smoke-laden atmosphere subject of considerable contemporary discussion. subject of considerable contemporary discussion.

39. Artist William Ascroft drew a series of Krakatau sunsets from the banks of the Thames River months after the eruption Artist William Ascroft drew a series of Krakatau sunsets from the banks of the Thames River months after the eruption The eruptions raised global temperature about 1°C in the northern hemisphere The eruptions raised global temperature about 1°C in the northern hemisphere Similar effects were seen after the June 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines Similar effects were seen after the June 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines Krakatoa Sketches, Ascroft, 1883

41. Sunset, Chelsea, London, 1883