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Impressionism Overview

• Definition: Impressionism is a 19th-century art movement that began with a group of Paris-based artists, noted for their independent exhibitions in the 1870s and 1880s.

• Origin of the name: The term 'Impressionism' originated from Claude Monet’s painting Impression, Sunrise (1872), which led critic Louis Leroy to coin the term in a satirical review.

Characteristics of Impressionist Paintings

• Brush strokes: Small, thin, visible strokes that convey motion.

• Composition: Open composition with ordinary subject matter.

• Light depiction: Captures light's changing qualities and effects over time.

• Visual angles: Uses unusual angles to present perspectives.

Evolution of the Movement

• Impressionism inspired analogous movements in music and literature.

• Artists like Eugène Delacroix influenced Impressionists in their approach to color and light.

• The movement was a shift from traditional academic painting to capturing immediacy and movement in modern life.

Historical Context

• Dominion of Académie des Beaux-Arts (mid-19th century): Upheld traditional standards, focusing on historical and religious themes while rejecting landscape and still life.

• Artists' Reactions: Painters began to submit works that reflected brighter, more personal approaches but faced persistent rejection from academic judiciaries.

Important Figures in Early Impressionism

• Core Group: Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, Frédéric Bazille, Camille Pissarro, Paul Cézanne, and Armand Guillaumin.

• Notable Incidents: Édouard Manet's The Luncheon on the Grass was rejected, leading to the Salon des Refusés, a pivotal exhibition highlighting new artistic directions.

First Impressionist Exhibitions

• Formation of Société Anonyme Coopérative des Artistes Peintres (1873): Founded by Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, and Sisley for independent exhibitions.

• Initial Exhibition (1874): Held in Nadar's studio; it received mixed reviews but established the term 'Impressionism' in public discourse.

Responses and Reception

• Early criticism was harsh; Louis Leroy's reviews ridiculed the works compared to wallpaper quality.

• Gradually, public reception improved, recognizing their unique visual representations.

Characteristics of Techniques

• Brushwork: Short, thick strokes, often applied with impasto to emphasize texture.

• Color application: Vibrant, side-by-side colors to achieve optical mixing, avoiding smooth blending.

• Light reflections: Emphasis on the play of light, with shadows sometimes painted in hues reflecting the surrounding environment.

Influences on Impressionism

• Borrowed Techniques: From historical artists like Frans Hals, Diego Velázquez, and John Constable.

• Photography and Japonism: Encouraged brief, candid captures and unconventional compositions. Edgar Degas’s works reflect these influences.

Noteworthy Artists

• Central figures of the movement:

  • Claude Monet

  • Pierre-Auguste Renoir

  • Edgar Degas

  • Mary Cassatt

  • Camille Pissarro

  • Paul Cézanne

Impact Beyond France

• The Impressionist style spread globally, influencing American and European artists, notably in nations like Belgium, Germany, and beyond.

Conclusion

• Legacy: Impressionism laid foundations for various painting movements, namely Post-Impressionism, Neo-Impressionism, Fauvism, stretching its influence into modern art forms.

• The movement contrasts greatly with traditional realistic art, emphasizing subjective experiences and interpretations of light and color.