Art has always been an essential aspect of our lives as it has the ability to describe the human condition and connect with our emotions that at times cannot be verbally expressed. But, throughout time, art has also been subjected to a series of changes and evolutions. One of my favourite art movements is impressionism, as it embodies both texture and the nuances of light in a landscape. That’s why today, I want to tell you a little bit about what impressionism is and its lasting impact on society.
What is Impressionism?
The impressionist movement began in France during the late 19th century, and it is heavily credited to artists such as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, and Edgar Degas. Unlike realism, impressionist artists explored how a landscape could be objectively portrayed through various textures, colours, and the effects of light. Therefore, the objective behind the paintings was not to portray something as accurately as possible but to rather manipulate colours and light in an aesthetic and calming way. As a result, a lot of the artwork appears mysterious and provokes emotion. Another notable aspect of impressionism is the patterns that can be found in the artwork, whether that be in the brushstrokes or the way the objects are painted. Impressionist artists also stopped using greys and blacks in shadows, which made their paintings not have clear, dark outlines. This was done to mimic the way sceneries look as they are first seen by an individual.
The Influence of the Impressionism Art Movement
Impressionism had its height of popularity during the late 19th century and early 20th century. Therefore, many of the paintings we are influenced by today are the product of this art movement. Impressionist artists have contributed to the modern art scene, as they were one of the first to use mixed colours and undefined brush strokes to create an art piece rather than sticking to the distinct line work and bright colours prevalent at that time. Today, many artists still use impressionist techniques to create their pieces. Additionally, techniques that are associated with impressionism can be used with acrylic, oil, and mixed media paintings, which makes its influence more common in the modern era.
Notable Artists
The beauty of impressionism comes from talented artists who could portray vivid sceneries through undefined brush strokes and unique colours. As mentioned previously, Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro are some of the most popular Impressionist artists. Claude Monet is recognized for painting landscapes as he perceived them, whereas Pissarro is known for helping impressionism be recognized as an actual art movement through his series of exhibitions. One of Claude Monet’s most famous paintings is the Woman with the Parasol. This painting depicts Monet’s wife and son on a stroll during a bright day. The casual setting of the day alongside the spontaneous brushstrokes give the painting character. At the same time, the grass and the wind are shown to have similar movements, which are further accentuated with bright shadows. One of Pissarro’s most recognized artworks is The Boulevard Montmartre at Night. This painting explores the effects of artificial light rather than other Pissarro landscape paintings that are set in natural lighting. At the same time, Pissarro’s artwork presents the essence of Parisian streets, which are illuminated by bright lights and vibrant shops.
In the end, the Impressionism art movement created a new era of art styles that is not defined by conventional art, but rather explores the effects of nature on human eyes. This goes to show that individuals have many ways to showcase their emotions either objectivity or subjectivity and creating art provides for the means to express that effectively. Thus, art connects people around the world and will continue to change as time goes on.