Impressionism in Art: Understanding its Definition and Impact on the Art World
Impressionism is a style of painting that emerged in the period of the mid-19th century to the early 20th century. This movement in art focused on an artist’s observation of their environment, capturing the ‘impressed’ moment and realism of their time and place of observation. Originally, Impressionism was referred to as the impressionistic style of painting in order to distinguish it from other painting styles of its time.
What is Impressionism?
The term “Impressionism” has derived from Claude Monet’s 1874 painting titled “Impression, Sunrise”. The style of painting focuses on the depiction of subjects in a more realistic and simplified manner that capture a transitory pace. This movement of art is characterized by the use of broken brushstrokes and painterly handling of paints. Some of the key features of this style include;
1. Color Theory:
To evoke vibrancy and captivate the viewers, Impressionist painters relied on their experience of light within the physical environment to establish bright & muted color combinations. This practice is referred to as contemporary color theory which aimed to experiment with various hues as contrasted with different values of light.
2. Emphasis on Light:
The style of Impressionism is strongly associated with the usage of light to emphasized and boost the mood with the help of differing luminosity. Impressionist artists would integrate vibrant and soft reflections of light within their paintings which gave their visuals a unique illuminated appeal.
3. Establishment of Movement and Depth:
By painting with broken brush strokes, the artist would impressionistically capture a sense of movement, depth and shadows on the canvas which was strongly favored by the art community during its time.
Notable Impressionist Painters
Some of the best-known Impressionist painters include;
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Claude Monet:
One of the most notable representatives of art impressionism, Claude Monet was the founder of this movement. His works ‘Impression, Sunrise’ was the stimulus that led to the title ‘Impressionism’. -
Pierre-Auguste Renoir:
Being appointed by the government as a teacher of art during the late 19th century, Renoir had a strong liking for art and nature, which is depicted through his works. -
Edgar Degas:
Degas was a well-known figure in the art community of the 19th century. He was best known for his artistic expression of motion, energy and passion which were central elements of his Impressionistic artwork. -
Edouard Manet:
Manet was known for his usage of rapid brush strokes in order to capture the fleeting gaze. His remarkable belief was that the artist should take risks, be sure and playful when painting.
Impressionism in the Art World
Impressionism in art was considered a movement of rebellion during its time as it was seen to be antithetical to the conventional view of painting which was hold by the official Salon. The main takeaway of impressionism was that it enabled artists to experiment with color, composition and brush strokes which has been seen as the gateway approach and inspiration of several other art forms such as Post Impressionism, Fauvism and Cubism.
Impressionism had a unique approach to the Rendering of Light within paintings, as opposed to the traditional and conventional methods of setting highlights and shading with the help of shadow. To capture the required vibrancy, impressionism came up with a more vibrant way of establishing luminescence into an artwork.
The art form of impressionism had a profound impact on the art world and revolutionized the way we view paintings, as it opened up a transition from the traditional to a more realistic approach of viewing art works. To this day, we can still view the impressionistic style of painting in modern day art works which is absolute proof of its influence and impact.
Impressionism as a style of art is considered to be one of the most important and influential movements of the 19th century art world. It enabled different painters to be liberated from the traditional and conventional methods of painting, allowing them to introduce texture, motion and energy to their artwork. It also opened up several other art movements such as fauvism and cubism, which inspired many upcoming painters & sculptors. Overall, Impressionism has been one of the most influential movements in the art world and its legacy is still seen in modern art works today.
