Impressionism

Édourad Manet, A Bar at the Folis-Bergère, 1882

Impressionism has become a popular style of art that emerged in France in the late 1800’s. The Impressionist movement broke the traditional style of painting. The method in which the paint is applied to the canvas, marked this historical change. Instead of longer, flowing brushstrokes the paint is applied to the canvas in touches of color. Using this technique for painting, details are minimized, but the colors used are vivid and vibrant. The Impressionist painters also brought their easel outside and the subject matter was generally outdoors, under natural light. This technique captures the subject matter as if it were to be seen during a particular time of day.

Producing an impression of a fleeting moment is a critical goal of impressionist painting. The study of light, integral to capturing such moments, became a powerful driving force in the movement as well. The subject matter of the Impressionists, whether indoors or outdoors revolved around the painting of modern life.

The Impressionist movement was met with violent opposition in its day as the established art world was horrified by the relaxed and non-traditional approach. However it survived to become one of the leading influences on art styles and movements.

Berthe Morisot, On The Grass, 1874

Key artists of the Impressionist circle included Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissaro, Pierre Auguste Renoir and Berthe Morisot.

Manet was critical to the development of impressionism as he broke tradition, following the Realist painter, Gustav Courbet and began painting everyday subject matter, which was often controversial, in impressionist style. There is an uncertainty about the image, and about the individual represented. A barmaid stands behind a bar, selling all the items in the bar. Is she for sale too?

Edgar Degas painted controversial subject matter disguised as images of innocent ballet dancers. In the picture below, Ballet Rehearsal, we see several ballerinas rehearsing in front of their instructor. In the right side of the image, there is a dark figure of a man dressed in a dark suit. The reason this image is controversial is because ballet dancers were often lower class girls. They were often watched and selected during rehearsals and performances and were bought by bourgeois men for sexual favors.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Luncheon of the Boating Party, 1881

Claude Monet preferred Landscape scenes while Berthe Morisot painted women and daily life as subject matter.

Renoir was the first to reject Impressionism, and it’s fleeting, or passing impression. One of his last impressionist works was Luncheon of the Boating Party. In this piece it is evident that Renoir gives the people in the scene more stability. This is evident with the subjects who are placed in the foreground. The way in which the figures are painted is more solid than previous Impressionist works.