Premium Essay

Impressionism

In:

Submitted By chalbg
Words 301
Pages 2
Impressionism changed art it influenced a subsequent generation of artists it spawned a multitude of art movements
Modern Art was firmly modern from the Impressionists on

Impressionism was about a light
Impressionists studied light to the -nth degree. They looked long and hard at how light is reflected or absorbed, and how this interplay registers colors in our brains. They observed and sketched endlessly.
They then tried to recreate light itself with paints and brushes.

Color theory was a key component of Impressionism new science, formulated by the French Chemist Chevreul. His theory divide colors in 2 groups, primary colors (blue, yellow, red) and secondary colors (made by mixing two primary colors. (The Impressionists grasped his findings and put it into practice. According to this principle, a secondary color is strengthened when appended next to the non component primary color. Let me be clear, purple is strengthened next to yellow, as green next to red and orange next to blue.
The Impressionists put that theory in practice: they gave up the old idea that the shadow of an object was made up from the color of the object with some brown or black added. Instead, they thought that the shadow of any colour could be mixed from pure hues and broken up with its opposite color.

Impressionism was about technique
Here, too, Impressionism was bold and daring. These artists broke from smooth convention and let anyone who cared to look see full evidence their brushwork (unthinkable!).
Because they now had tubes of paint that could open and close, they began mixing colors right on their canvases instead of their palettes (unheard of!).

The final break from academic traditions was that impressionists painted ordinary subject matters. They lost interest in royalty and history, to spend their time painting daily life

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Impressionism

...Impressionism and Post Impressionism The visual features which were found unacceptable or challenging to existing art conventions and social values were of many. During the 19th century, it was regarded improper for women to be alone with men who were not relatives, thus the concept of a nude female model working in an art studio was considered highly immoral. This was a time for revolution in art which related to science, a non-traditional European culture, the growing social concern for the common man and a woman’s conservative self. Young artists found themselves rejected by art academies like the Paris Salon. From this conflict immerged Impressionism. Women were a frequent subject in Impressionist art and they were often depicted as objects of beauty, purity, and delicacy often in gardens, baths and home with children. Conceptual Framework Many new techniques and characteristics are found common in Impressionist art, this including; harsh strong lines, contrasted colours, sketch like paintings, broken colour, subject matters exposed in broad areas of light, Chevreul’s colour theory, depiction of light as colour rather than tone, luminosity of colour, informal composition, rejected traditional techniques and influenced by Japanese prints and photography. Frames Henri de Toulouse- Lautrec‘s ‘At the Moulin Rouge’ has captivated an immediate photo like artwork considering the immediate and rapid capture of the movement and characteristic gestures of people...

Words: 265 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Impressionism vs Post-Impressionism

...Impressionism, the Benchmark of Post Impressionism Marvin Johnson WGU November 09, 2014 I Impressionism and Post Impressionism In France, by the conclusion of the nineteenth century many changes were arising. The social and political arenas were in an uprise. This environment made way for diversities among the artistic styles of the day. It encouraged artist to display their abilities and uniqueness in masterpieces of art, music, and theater. Visual arts, such as photography and film-making gained appreciation. As Impressionism broke away from traditional art, it was regarded as controversial originally and endangered the worth of fine art. Impressionism expressed a fresh approach to creativity rather than just replicating the style and techniques of the artists of the day. Not long after the impressionists were finally accepted, the post-impressionists artistic styles arose. These artists learned from their predecessors, but rebelled in a different direction. Their purpose was to restore a sense of order and constructive organization to art of painting. The connection between Impressionism and Post- impressionism is the one art form gleaned from the other, but was persistent in making modifications that expressed their own unique way of projecting the own expressions into their artwork. Through the 1870’s and 1880’s, times were shifting in France. There was a greater awareness in industrialization. Manufactures and factories replaced the common...

Words: 1632 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Impressionism

...Impressionism Impressionism started in the 1870’s when a group of painters thought to paint what the eye sees rather than what the mind knows. Landscapes were the most prominent subjects in this era along with middle-class people leisurely enjoying themselves outdoors. Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Mary Cassatt, and Claude Monet are just some of the major impressionist artists of the time. Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted Le Moulin de la Galette in 1876. This painting was created by oil on canvas and portrayed middle-class people enjoying leisure activities outdoors. The men and women depicted are talking and drinking wine while enjoying the outside. The colors used are mainly blues and blacks with lighter colors to portray the lighting coming through the trees. There are many people sitting and conversing while others are out on the floor dancing with delight. There are no key figures as he portrays the painting from a view that captures all of the activities that are happening. It is very easy to tell that this portrait is an impressionist work of art as the colors are side by side with little mixing and the edges are soft. There are no hard lines and the sight of natural light is greatly emphasized. After the Industrial Revolution, an urban middle-class was created who had respect for fashion and the new technology (Frank, 2005). Renoir’s painting portrays this class with their sense of fashion and their love of leisure activities. He was interested in the drama and conversing...

Words: 813 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Iwt1 Impressionism vs Post Impressionism

...The two historical art periods I chose to discuss are Impressionism and Post Impressionism. Impressionism occurred during the elate 19th century in France from 1874 – 1882. During this historic time period paintings were done in quick movements with lift and vibrant colors. Artists used thick strokes of paint and left brush strokes to vie paintings new dimensions. During this time period nature influenced these artist the most. The traditional government paintings were rejected by Impressionism artist in lieu of paintings that expressed the light and beauty of nature. The Impressionism movement was launched by Eduoard Manet, Edgar Degas, Claude Moent, Pierre Auguste Renoir, and Mary Cassatt. Together they formed the group known as the Anonymous Society of Painters. They revolutionized Western conceptions of painting. Although they were collectively known as the Anonymous Society of painters they were independent paints with different approaches to their style of painting. They were all however, criticized for the finish of their work which appeared to be sketch like. Their subjects were commonplace including landscapes, leisure and recreation in open air or “en plein air” settings, using quick and spontaneous brushstrokes to depict the fluctuation of light. Their subjects were captured by observation rather than idealization and they sought to capture typical moments in life with no moral message, rather than poses or dramatic scenes. They put special emphasis on and paid...

Words: 646 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Art Movements: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism

...Art Movements: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism On the morning of April 25, 1874, 10 days subsequent to the Anonymous Society of painters, sculptors and engravers first collective exhibit, Mr. Louis Leroy, an art critic employed by the French newspaper Le Charvari, unwittingly supplied the moniker for one of the most momentous movements in art history. Figure 1: Impression Sunrise by Claude Monet (1872) Entitled The Impressionists, Leroy's opinion on the group's presentation, which was strictly an attempt to denigrate Monet's Impression Sunrise, instantaneously spawned much ridicule from the salons, colleagues and industry patrons, yet the assortment of artists, including Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Degas, Manet, Sisley and Cezanne, ironically were quite fond of the term and implemented it to describe their artistic vision. When Classicism invaded Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries to usher in the Age of Enlightenment its form dominated societal culture until the rise of "The Rejects" as the Impressionists were referred to. Classicism was based upon strict form and a structured focal point. Impressionism rebelled every established convention of all previous art forms. Its focus was based on freedom or a release from prior constraints and depicted what was actually seen versus the most ascetically pleasing vision. While Classicism strictly adhered to lines, contours and muted colors, Impressionism was much more akin to coloring outside the lines, so to speak. The Impressionists...

Words: 1317 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Impressionism vs. Post Impressionism

...Both Impressionism and Post-Impressionism came about in the late 19th century in France. During this time, the French government controlled the salons and academies of paintings in the early 19th century. It was the controlling by the French government that the Impressionist artists rejected for independent exhibitions. The Anonymous Society of Painters, Engravers, Sculptors, etc.; not only organized, but also participated in the first independent art exhibition that was held in 1874 ("Impressionism and Post-Impressionism," 2007-2015). This group included more than twenty famous artists and included Claude Monet and Auguste Renior. These artists didn't like to be restricted to painting in studios and drawing inspiration from past art, history, or mythology; as artists of the past were, they painted scenes from modern life and/or landscapes. Impressionist artists had a great understanding of nature of light and color theory. They were very literal with their paintings, they didn't vary from the scene in front of them. Take Monet's work, 'Impression, Sunrise' for example; he created this painting exactly as he saw it. He used visible brushstrokes to show exactly how the sunrise looked over the water that morning (Voorhies, October 2004). By 1886, however there were younger artists that felt the Impressionists didn't put the concentration on the subject matter like they should, instead focusing more on their technique and the effects of the natural light ("Post-Impressionism...

Words: 965 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Impressionism vs Post-Impressionism Art

...Impressionism and Post-Impressionism Art In researching periods of art, the rebellious changes in the late 19th century sparked my interest. Artists in the late 19th century sought to transform the idea of portraying realistic subjects and developed a less formal style that they viewed as more true to how we actually see. I found the Impressionism and Post-Impressionism movements, each with their own distinct styles and characteristics were the gateway to the modern art of today. In this essay I will describe and compare art in the two periods, including social conditions of the time and how these movements influenced the future art world. Impressionism represents a style as well as a name of a group of artists who rebelled against the art academies in Europe. These art academies and government-sanctioned art exhibits, known as salons, controlled how artists made their work known and the value of that art. Artists, such as Monet, Renoir and Degas, used radical techniques in their compositions and were rejected by the salons. These artists challenged the conservative academic standards of form and detail. They came together in 1874 to hold their own independent art exhibition. The name of the style came from critic, Louis Leroy, after publishing his review of the exhibition in which Monet’s painting Impression: Sunrise was displayed. Leroy criticized Monet’s work for appearing unfinished and only giving the impression of art (Samu, n.d.). The Impressionism artists renounced...

Words: 780 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Realism and Impressionism Movements

...Realism and Impressionism Movements Gloria Slezak ART 101- Art Appreciation Instructor Todd Leisek May 23, 2014 This essay will be about Realism and Impressionism movements. Both Realism and Impressionism movement was in the 19th century. The differences between these movements are that the Realism movement was in the mid-19th century and Impressionism was in the late 19th century. I will discuss two pieces of artwork that was done in these movements. One will be The Stone Breakers by Gustave Courbet and the other one is called Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette by Auguste Renoir. In this essay I will do my best to explain a little about how the characteristics and factors are reflected in these pieces of art. The Stone Breakers was a painting done by a French painter named Gustave Courbet. Gustave was well-known for his work of arts of still lives, self-portraits, females, common men workers, landscapes and many other common places. This painting was done in 1849 and is about hundred sixty-five years old. Addressed as the pioneer of the Realist movement Gustave set a unique artistic movement which caused a lot of disagreement among other artists. This movement demonstrated and signified the everyday life. Realism was exceptional and contentious in the sense that it broke away from the norm which was for centuries illustrating popular, religious figures, however Gustave ideologies were for artists to represent only what they can see or have lived. His painting was a work...

Words: 1248 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

How Did the Impressionism Art Period Influence the Post Impressionism Period

...How did the Impressionism art period influence the Post Impressionism period Robert Perfili Western Governors University How did the Impressionism art period influence the Post Impressionism period. The approach to impressionism art evolved in France during the late 19th century. It was considered the most famous French painting movement ever. Prior to the Impressionist art period France was in turmoil due to the instability of government. It saw different forms of government rise and overtake others between the end of King Louis XVI in 1789 and the overthrow in 1851 of Napoleons vast empire which came to an end in 1870. At this time, France fell to Prussia and was governed by the Third Republic (Hammerstingl, 1998, 1999). Besides government turmoil, religions were faced with scientific advancements that questioned the origins of ancient scripture. The industrial expansion was beginning to take shape. Society as a whole was beginning to change. People during this century were very prejudiced against changes and fresh ideas. Especially those in influential positions like religious leaders and government officials. As a result, the Impressionist movement suffered because of this narrow minded thinking. This period was coming into view when society was on the verge of big changes. New inventions, the Industrial Revolution and the desire to separate from Romanticism were all factors inspiring the Impressionist movement. Even with all this exciting change, it was...

Words: 1398 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Impressionism - Mini Essay

...The expression "Impressionist" was initially begat in the mid-1870s, as a discriminatingly disparaging term, of the light- and shading centered canvases of a little band of Paris-based craftsmen, the alleged "Salon des Refusés" (Salon of the Can't) - among them Manet, Renoir, Degas, and particularly Monet, whose "Impression, soleil levant" propelled the name. The usage of the term to music, from the 1880s, was a somewhat unsurprising extension, however most writers to whom it was connected disavowed its application - specifically Claude Debussy, whose music are "imbeciles", and that rather he is just attempting to do "something other than what's expected”. A characteristic of the “Impressionist” was the medieval modes, as they were alluring to writers who tried to escape the "oppression" of the significant/minor sound. Stressed were essential interims - octaves, fourths, and fifths - in parallel movement. This looked like a medieval technique known as "organum", where a tune was fit by an alternate which ran parallel to it at a separation of a fourth or fifth. The harmony and melody of The Prelude to an Evening of a Faun gives the melody a dreamlike and improvisatory feeling. The opening woodwind solo of the piece comprises of a chromatic plunge to a triton underneath the first piece. (Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, 2013). Chromaticism is a musical method joining the essential diatonic pitches with different pitches of the chromatic scale.Debussy likewise uses expanded...

Words: 688 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Impressionism vs. Postimpressionism

...Impressionism vs. Postimpressionism By: C.M. Impressionism and Postimpressionism are two significant historical art periods. Although Postimpressionism originated from Impressionism they had many differences and very little similarities. This ranges from where the artists completed their work to even how the artists would like for their work to be preserved. Impressionism came to light in the 1870’s to 1880’s in Paris, France. These artists went against the rules of art at the time, they did not focus on using strait lines and details, which were the norm of the time, and instead they painted more landscapes and outdoor portraits using natural lighting. An example of this work is Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s, On the Terrace. They focused more on the way the light hit the subject and tried to show it as you actually see it. The artists tended to work outdoors, use short brush strokes and vibrant colors in their paintings. Postimpressionism started in the late 1880’s through the 1890’s by artists that were rejecting Impressionism. Impressionists were still painting objects as you see them where postimpressionist filled their works with feelings and emotions. These artists used many swirling motions like in the painting by Vincent Van Gogh, Starry Night. They tended to work in studios and take more time completing their work than impressionist did. Postimpressionist filled their works with feelings and emotions. Impressionism and Postimpressionism were similar in the facts that...

Words: 478 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Realism Into Impressionism: Relationship, Characteristics and Style of the Movements

...Realism into Impressionism: Relationship, Characteristics and Style of the Movements Western Governors University IWT1 Task 1 Realism into Impressionism: Relationship, Characteristics and Style of the Movements Throughout time, people have expressed themselves through art in many different forms. Whether it is architecture, literature, music or visual arts; the art form is influenced by the artist, their experiences, imagination, surrounding cultures and history. Some art movements are a drastic change from previous movements, whereas others carry on characteristics from other movements or revive a movement from centuries earlier. It was not uncommon for different genres to exist during the same time periods. Romanticism, Realism, Pictorialism, Impressionism, Art Nouveau, and Victorian Photography were all movements that existed in the 19th century and early 20th century. (MindEdge 3.03; 2014) Some of these movements were an escape or a rebellion against the norm of mythological or glorified subject matters. Two movements whose painters are often times considered to be members of both genres are the Realism and Impressionism movements, such as Edouard Manet and Edward Degas. However, what influenced one movement was not necessarily the reasons for the characteristics, style or subject choices of the other. Visual art and artists, during the mid to late 1800’s to the early 1900’s, observed many changes take place in France. The changes experienced with the...

Words: 3091 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Iwt1

...as the Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, Printmakers organized in Paris, that created the first impressionist exhibition (Samu, 2004). This group championed exhibitions throughout the 1880’s, and it created an awareness that was opposed by the conventional art community throughout France. Claude Monet was an impressionist artist, and he created a work of art known as Sunrise. Claude Monet gave the name impressionism to the art form because a critic of his stated his painting was a sketch or an “impression” (Samu, 2004). Most of the paintings during this era were panoramas or outdoor scenes. My Uncle John is an impressionist painter. He enjoyed this period of art, so he decided to model his style after the impressionist era. He was drawn to this because the artists seemed to create their techniques focusing on light and how it impacted images. The method for this type of painting consisted of short irregular broken strokes with vivacious light and colors, which added breadth to the paintings. The phenomenon of transistorizes was realized through impressionism. When an artist ventures out into the wilderness with his equipment and attempts to capture every detail visible to them they are in a heightened state of mind as compared to an artist who sits in their studio painting (Collins, 2012). There were many changes that took place in the political, economic and social climates. The industrial revolution replaced many of the small local farms and factories with...

Words: 1250 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Iwt Task 1

...inspiration in a vast array of styles, such as; social and political events, religious and mythological depictions, ornate and affluent periods, tangible subjects that portray life accurately and in-motion, cultural movements, abstract images, and pop culture. The two movements that inclined the writing of this paper were; Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. The reason why I chose these two eras is I felt the artists of this time period were brave enough to create what they felt with very little acceptance or approval from their colleagues. Impressionism was developing new creations by changing the subject matter of artwork. It was no longer depictions of history, mythology or royalty; it was now about landscapes and capturing a certain moment in time. The smooth brush strokes of their predecessors were no longer apparent, and this new form of painting entailed; short brush strokes, wet paint applications directly onto the canvas, and juxtaposition. Impressionists liked to focus on capturing the optical effects of lighting and color. Post -Impressionism took it a step further by exaggerating the subject matter. The artists within the Post-Impressionism period took great pride in having their art reflect emotion and express a bright palette of colors that showed imagination, innovation, and texture. They no longer focused on the whole subject, but rather intensified a certain attribute of the matter instead. This was the beginning of modern art....

Words: 1962 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

European Art History

...1. Neoclassism -Oath of the Horatii This painting by Jacques-Louise David portrays the power and dominance of imperial figures that was often seen in the late 1700s. It shows the apparent surrender of one man holding multiple swords to three men, while women cower in the background. The painting shows an understanding of its time period by the women that hide crying in fear and appearing weak behind the men. It expresses control and fear. It appears to be somewhere in Greece or Rome, where the now classical ideas of art originated. As a neoclassic piece, this is an appropriate setting. I feel that this painting does a fine job of showing the common feelings of many during the late 18th century, and that the artist made a good point with showing the helpless women behind the men. 2. Romanticism-The Third of May This well-known painting by Francisco Goya shows one well organized army taking control of a smaller, less organized military. They appear to have already shot a few men and are not afraid to do so again. The scene is taking place on the outskirts of town. This painting really captures the Romantic Movement by showing many common themes in romantic art, such as emotion, passion, and revolution. It also has many of its characteristics, including dramatic scenes, expressive use of color in the blood of the men, and images of death. In my opinion, the painting is frightening. It shows ruthless men and it seems to be a message that revolution will end in bloody...

Words: 1068 - Pages: 5