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Impressionism

Definition: Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that began as a loose association of Paris-based artists.
Prominence: Gained recognition in the 1870s and 1880s through independent exhibitions.
Origin of Name: The term "Impressionism" is derived from Claude Monet's painting Impression, Sunrise (Impression, soleil levant), which led critic Louis Leroy to coin the term in a satirical review.
Characteristics:
- Small, thin, yet visible brush strokes.
- Open composition and emphasis on light’s changing qualities.
- Depiction of ordinary subject matter with a focus on movement and unusual visual angles.
- En plein air painting to capture transient effects of sunlight.

Dominance of Académie des Beaux-Arts: In the mid-19th century, the Académie enforced strict traditional standards in French painting.
Artistic Standards: Historical subjects, religious themes, and polished portraits were preferred; landscapes and still lifes were often dismissed.

Core Group: Includes Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, and Frédéric Bazille, who painted together and shared progressive views against the Academy's norms.
Manet's Influence: Édouard Manet's rejection at the Salon ignited discussions among young artists, leading to the establishment of the Salon des Refusés, showcasing rejected artworks and new artistic trends.

Plein air Painting: Artists moved outdoors to capture natural light and spontaneous moments, a departure from traditional indoor still life and portraiture.
Brushwork: Utilized short, "broken" brush strokes of mixed colours to evoke a sense of vibrancy and light.
Composition: Shift away from centralized subjects to compositions resembling snapshots. This mirrored the developing medium of photography which influenced perceptions of reality.

Colour Application: Use of vibrant side-by-side colours with minimal mixing; dark tones achieved through complementary colour mixing.
Light Dynamics: Emphasis on natural light, capturing reflections and atmospheric effects—blue shadows to indicate reflections rather than a direct application of black paint.
Intermingling Styles: Blurring lines between subject and background in compositions, yielding an effect akin to contemporaneous photographs.

Initially, Impressionism faced hostility from critics and the art establishment.
Over time, public opinion shifted, recognizing the fresh perspectives provided by Impressionist paintings.
The term "Impressionism" became widely accepted by both artists and the public despite varied stylistic approaches within the group.

Claude Monet: The figure most closely associated with Impressionism who pursued spontaneity through colour.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir: Another leading figure, who sometimes drifted away from Impressionist norms in later years.
Edgar Degas: A realist whose techniques deviated from the typical Impressionist style but contributed greatly to the movement's evolution.
Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt: Influential female artists within the movement who depicted everyday life and women’s experiences.

International Adoption: Impact of Impressionism spread globally with artists from America, Belgium, and Australia adopting its techniques. Notable figures include Mary Cassatt, John Twachtman, and Australian Impressionists like Frederick McCubbin.

Impressionism set the foundation for subsequent movements like Neo-Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, and Cubism.
It opened artistic avenues for subjective expression, prioritizing individual perception over realistic representation.

Beyond painting, Impressionism influenced music (notably through composers like Debussy and Ravel) and literature, fostering a style that emphasized sensory impressions.

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