Impressionism

Characteristics of Impressionism

Luminosity (emitting or reflecting light) The interaction of light and form

Example: Light reflecting on water Subtlety of tone (different shades of color) Use of complementary colors

Characteristics of Impressionism

From the Romantics, a fascination with nature. From the Realists, use of unbiased objectivity. A response to photography A response to 19th century science

Physics of light Chemistry of paint Laws of optics

Claude Monet (1840 – 1926)

Pioneer of Impressionism First work of the style called Impression:

Sunrise, done in 1873. Critic called it “only an impression” and

“wallpaper in its embryonic state” Plein-air: Painting outdoors.

Claude Monet, Impression: Sunrise1873, Oil on canvas

Claude Monet Haystacks, End of Summer1891, Oil on canvas

Claude MonetRouen Cathedral Series1892 – 1893Oil on canvas

Claude MonetRouen Cathedral Series1892 – 1893Oil on canvas

Claude MonetWater-Lily Pond, Symphony in Green1899Oil on canvas

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841 – 1919)

Render nature with short, brilliant brush strokes

Themes of everyday life (dining, dancing, boating, socializing, etc.)

Spontaneous position of subjects Over 6,000 paintings

Pierre-Auguste Renoir Luncheon of the Boating PartyOil on canvas, 1881

Edgar Degas (1834 – 1917)

Rejected “posed” models Viewpoint is deliberately random Influenced by photography Loved painting dancers & horses

Edgar Degas The False Start1870, Oil on canvas

Edgar Degas, The Dancing Class1871 – 72, Oil on wood

Edgar Degas, The Rehearsal1873 – 78, Oil on canvas

Edgar DegasThe Little Dancer1880 – 1881Bronze with net tutu and hair ribbon

Mary Cassatt

Knew and exhibited with Degas and Renoir Likely the lover of Degas

Specialty was mother/daughter scenes Popular artist in America, but she preferred

France because of their views on women

Mary CassattThe Bath1891 – 1892Oil on canvas

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Opposite of Cassatt Images of prostitutes, whore houses,

cabaret dancers, etc. Mocked traditional ideas of beauty Stylized figures, almost caricatures

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, At The Moulin-Rouge1893 – 1895, Oil on canvas

Auguste Rodin (1840 – 1917)

Parts left unfinished to create contrast between rough and polished texture.

This made the light reflect more realistically “The sculpture of antiquity sought the logic

of the human body; I seek its psychology.”

Auguste Rodin 'The Age Of Bronze'About 1876Bronze

Auguste RodinThe Thinker1902Bronze and marble

Auguste RodinThe Kiss1902Bronze and marble