What is Impressionism? A beginner's guide

A painting of a woman with a parasol and child in an open field.
Madame Monet and her son by Claude Monet (1875)

Impressionism is one of history's most recognizable art movements. It is known for fleeting effects of light and color in paintings. It originated in France in the 1870s as a modern approach to art together with Realism.

Unorthodox as impressionists' approaches might be, with their antics of loose brushwork, use of bright colors, painting outdoors, and portrayal of unusual subjects, their toils proved to be a revolutionary thrust that removed art from limiting conventions. 

This is a beginner's guide to the impressionist movement.

The advent of Impressionism

Impressionism first emerged in the 1870s as French artists' reaction to Neoclassicism, the leading art movement of the time. 

A neoclassical painting by Jacques-Louis David depicting the oath of the horatii brothers to save their city.
Oath of the horatii by Jacques-Louis David (1784)

Neoclassicism saw the revival of Greco-Roman values in art and influenced artists to paint historical, biblical, and allegorical subjects.

Neoclassicism permeated ideas in art academies. It was the definitive genre artists must adhere to be in exhibitions and make a living. 

A painting of a scene in 19th century Salon art exhibition in Paris.
Charles X distributing awards to artists by François Joseph Heim (1827)

This adherence, however, came to a point of selectiveness that discouraged artists to explore other genres. 

Inevitably, there were artists who refused to abide Neoclassical values. 

Gustave Courbet (1819-1877) initiated the realism movement to depart from idealized academic art to depict a sober reality.

A painting of two stone breaker laborers.
The stone breakers by Gustave Courbet (1849)

Another artist in opposition was Édouard Manet (1832-1883), who was denied in exhibitions because of modern techniques and subjects.

Two clothed gentlemen having a picnic with 2 nude women in a forest.
The luncheon on the grass by Édouard Manet (1863)

It was Manet who would greatly influence the impressionists. The budding rebels differed in technique but shared Manet's sentiment that art must have new standards. 

A young mother looking at her sleeping infant daughter in a cradle.
The cradle by Berthe Morisot (1872)

The results were paintings that emphasize color rather than draftsmanship, visual effects over details, with subjects depicting modern life rather than classical themes.

Tired of rejection, the impressionists run their own exhibition. They held their first exposition in 1874 at a photographer's studio in Paris. 

A 19th century photo of photographer Nadar's studio in Paris.
Nadar's photography studio at 35 Boulevard des Capucines in 1860.

Artists Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, and Berthe Morisot, were among the show's leading participants. 

Catalog cover of the first Impressionist exhibition.
Catalog cover of the 1874 impressionist exhibition.

Viewers did not have kind words for their efforts. Many commented that their works look lazy and unfinished.

A sunrise scene painted using impressionist technique.
Impression, sunrise by Claude Monet (1872)

Louis Leroy (1812-1885), a critic, commented that the works are mere "impressions" not worthy of artistic consideration. 

Leroy's comment was derogatory, but it stuck as an apt description of the circle's aims. The exhibition, from then on, was named in the same moniker. It ran for eight years, from 1874 to 1886.

A woman and a gentleman in a Parisian theatre box.
The theatre box by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1874)

Impressionism eventually gained acclaim and proved many conventions outdated. It inspired artists to break out of Neoclassical tradition.

Its triumph over conservatism allowed for a profound reformation that made it known as the first modern movement in Art history.

Characteristics of Impressionism

1. Loose brush strokes 

19th century Paris street life scene.
Dance at Le moulin de la Galette by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1876)

The first noticeable attribute of impressionists is loose brush strokes. This technique is called Impasto. It gives impressionist paintings their haze-like, incomplete quality.

2. Painted "En plein eir"

A view of Boulevard Montmartre painted using impressionist technique.
Boulevard Montmartre, spring by Camille Pissarro (1897)

En plein eir is a French phrase that means "outside." Impressionists have portable equipment that allows them to paint outdoors, often depicting landscapes in various light of day. 

3. Use of bright colors

An Impressionist painting of a water lily garden and a Japanese bridge.
Water lilies and Japanese bridge by Claude Monet (1899)

Impressionists use bright colors to heighten their painting's visual effect. They avoid using dark tones and instead apply luminous colors like yellow, blue, and green.

4. Unusual subjects and unusual angles

An impressionist painting of a ballerina dance class scene.
The dance class by Edgar Degas (1874)

Impressionists depict leisure and domesticity as opposed to the classical sentiments of academies. Impressionists are also known for portraying subjects in unusual angles, a fixation influenced by unconventional Japanese wood prints.

5. Immediate perception over reality 

An impressionist painting depicting the Saint Lazare station in Paris.
Saint Lazare station by Claude Monet (1877)

The most valued trait of impressionists is their emphasis on immediate perception. They paint quick to capture a scene's fleeting impression. This mean that their works are finished on the spot and often contained blurred outlines.

Key impressionist artists

1. Claude Monet (1840-1926)

A photo of Claude Monet.
Portrait photograph of Claude Monet by Nadar (1899)

Monet is the eminent member of the impressionist movement. He is known for landscapes painted using the impasto technique, the most famous of which is a series on his garden's water lily ponds.

2. Camille Pissarro (1830-1903)

A photo of Camille Pissarro.
Portrait photograph of Camille Pissarro (1900)

Pissarro is the oldest member of the impressionist group and the only one who partook in all eight exhibitions. He's known for painting the French countryside, depicting peasants and farmers in landscape scenes. 

3. Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)

A photo of Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
Portrait photograph of Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1875)

Renoir was a classmate of Monet under the tutelage of Charles Gleyre (1806-1874). His main subject is impressions of Parisian life, with scenes of leisure, frivolity, and feminine sensuality.

4. Mary Cassatt (1844-1926)

A photo of Mary Cassatt seating.
Mary Cassatt seated in a chair with an umbrella. Courtesy of Durand-Ruel 1913.

Cassatt is one of the four women impressionists. She is known for her portrayals of domestic life, particularly, of bonds between women and children.

5. Edgar Degas (1834-1917)

A photo of Edgar Degas.
 Self-portrait photograph (1895)

Degas initially trained classically but departed as he became acquainted with the impressionists. He is known for ballerina portraits that allowed him novel ways of draftsmanship and composition.

Beyond impressionism

By 1890, close to two decades since their first exposition, impressionist works are now in prestigious exhibitions. The movement gained more patrons, and the critics who challenged them were proved erroneous.

From this victory, Impressionism would spur further exploration that would bring about Post-impressionism, Cubism, Expressionism, and Fauvism-the art movements that would shape Art history in the 20th century.

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