Impressionism and Post-Impressionism revolutionized art in the late 19th century. These movements broke from traditional academic styles, focusing on capturing light, atmosphere, and modern life. Artists like Monet and Renoir used innovative techniques to depict everyday scenes with vibrant colors and loose brushwork.

Post-Impressionists like Van Gogh and Cézanne built on these ideas, adding more structure and emotional depth. They explored new ways to represent reality, using color and form symbolically. These movements laid the groundwork for 20th-century avant-garde art, influencing Cubism, Expressionism, and abstract styles.

Origins of Impressionism

• Emerged in late 19th century France as a radical departure from traditional academic painting styles
• Reflected broader cultural shifts towards modernity, urbanization, and scientific advancements
• Challenged established artistic conventions and paved the way for new forms of visual expression

Historical context

• Developed during the Second French Empire and early Third Republic (1860s-1880s)
• Coincided with rapid industrialization and urban growth in Paris
• Influenced by the social and political upheavals of the time (Franco-Prussian War, Paris Commune)
• Responded to the rise of the bourgeoisie and changing patterns of leisure and consumption

Influence of photography

• Invention of photography in 1839 challenged painters to reconsider their role and approach
• Inspired artists to capture fleeting moments and atmospheric effects
• Influenced compositional techniques (cropping, unusual angles, snapshot-like views)
• Encouraged a focus on the play of light and shadow in scenes

Rejection of academic traditions

• Challenged the rigid rules and hierarchies of the French Academy of Fine Arts
• Rejected historical, mythological, and religious subjects favored by academic painters
• Abandoned highly finished, polished surfaces for more spontaneous brushwork
• Embraced contemporary subjects and scenes from everyday life
• Organized independent exhibitions outside the official Salon system (Salon des Refusés, Impressionist exhibitions)

Key Impressionist artists

• Represented a diverse group of painters who shared similar artistic goals and techniques
• Collaborated and exhibited together, forming a loose artistic movement
• Each developed unique styles and subjects within the broader Impressionist approach

Claude Monet

• Considered the quintessential Impressionist painter
• Famous for his series paintings exploring the effects of light on a single subject (Haystacks, Rouen Cathedral)
• Pioneered the use of broken color and optical mixing to capture atmospheric effects
• Created the iconic "Impression, Sunrise" (1872) which gave the movement its name
• Later works (Water Lilies series) approached abstraction and influenced 20th-century art

Pierre-Auguste Renoir

• Known for his vibrant color palette and joyful depictions of modern life
• Focused on portraits, scenes of leisure, and the female figure
• Developed a technique of feathery brushstrokes to create a sense of movement and light
• Notable works include "Luncheon of the Boating Party" and "Dance at the Moulin de la Galette"
• Later style evolved towards a more classical approach, influenced by Renaissance art

Edgar Degas

• Specialized in scenes of urban life, particularly ballet dancers and horse racing
• Employed unconventional compositions and viewpoints influenced by photography and Japanese prints
• Experimented with various media, including pastels, monotypes, and sculpture
• Known for his meticulous draftsmanship and ability to capture movement
• Famous works include "The Ballet Class" and "L'Absinthe"

Camille Pissarro

• Often called the "dean of the Impressionist painters" due to his mentorship of younger artists
• Focused on rural and urban landscapes, particularly scenes of peasant life
• Experimented with various Post-Impressionist styles later in his career (Pointillism, Synthetism)
• Played a crucial role in organizing the Impressionist exhibitions
• Notable works include "Boulevard Montmartre" series and "The Red Roofs"

Characteristics of Impressionism

• Defined by a set of shared artistic principles and techniques
• Aimed to capture the visual effects of light and atmosphere in the natural world
• Emphasized the immediacy of perception and the fleeting nature of modern life
• Revolutionized the way artists approached color, composition, and subject matter

Emphasis on light

• Focused on depicting the changing qualities of light throughout the day
• Used a brighter, more vibrant palette than traditional academic painting
• Eliminated black from the palette, using complementary colors for shadows
• Captured the effects of sunlight, reflections, and atmospheric conditions
• Explored how light affects the perception of color and form in nature

Loose brushwork

• Employed visible, expressive brushstrokes to convey a sense of spontaneity
• Used short, choppy strokes (impasto technique) to create texture and movement
• Abandoned smooth blending in favor of a more dynamic surface quality
• Aimed to capture the artist's immediate visual impressions of a scene
• Allowed the viewer to participate in the creation of the image through optical mixing

Everyday subjects

• Focused on scenes from modern life rather than historical or mythological themes
• Depicted urban landscapes, cafes, theaters, and public gardens
• Portrayed leisure activities of the middle class (boating, picnics, promenades)
• Included industrial subjects (railways, factories) as symbols of modernity
• Elevated ordinary, seemingly insignificant moments to the status of fine art

Plein air painting

• Emphasized working outdoors directly from nature (en plein air)
• Used portable easels and pre-mixed paints in tubes to facilitate outdoor painting
• Aimed to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere in real-time
• Challenged traditional studio practices and academic finish
• Resulted in a more spontaneous, sketch-like quality in finished works

Impressionist techniques

• Developed innovative approaches to color and brushwork
• Aimed to recreate the visual experience of light and atmosphere on canvas
• Influenced by scientific theories of color and optics
• Emphasized the primacy of visual perception over intellectual or narrative content

Color theory

• Influenced by the color theories of Michel Eugène Chevreul and Ogden Rood
• Explored the principles of simultaneous contrast and complementary colors
• Used pure, unmixed colors applied directly to the canvas
• Avoided using black, creating shadows with complementary colors instead
• Aimed to achieve greater luminosity and vibrancy in their paintings

Broken color

• Applied small, distinct brushstrokes of pure color side by side on the canvas
• Allowed colors to optically mix in the viewer's eye rather than on the palette
• Created a vibrant, shimmering effect that mimicked the play of light in nature
• Varied the size and direction of brushstrokes to convey different textures and forms
• Resulted in a more dynamic and energetic surface quality compared to traditional techniques

Optical mixing

• Relied on the viewer's eye to blend adjacent colors visually
• Placed complementary colors next to each other to create vibrant effects
• Used juxtaposition of warm and cool tones to suggest depth and atmosphere
• Exploited the principle that colors appear to change when placed next to others
• Anticipated later developments in Neo-Impressionism and Pointillism

Themes in Impressionist art

• Reflected the changing social and cultural landscape of late 19th-century France
• Focused on capturing the fleeting moments and sensations of modern life
• Explored the relationship between humans and their environment, both natural and urban
• Celebrated the beauty and complexity of everyday experiences

Modern urban life

• Depicted the newly renovated Paris with its wide boulevards and modern architecture
• Captured the energy and dynamism of city life (cafes, theaters, train stations)
• Portrayed the changing social dynamics of urban spaces
• Explored the effects of industrialization and technological progress
• Included scenes of work and commerce alongside leisure activities

Leisure activities

• Focused on the emerging culture of leisure among the middle class
• Depicted popular recreational activities (boating, picnics, dances, horse races)
• Explored the social rituals and fashions of the bourgeoisie
• Captured the atmosphere of public gardens, beaches, and resort towns
• Reflected changing attitudes towards nature and outdoor pursuits

Nature and landscapes

• Emphasized the direct observation of nature and atmospheric effects
• Depicted rural landscapes, seascapes, and gardens
• Explored the changing relationship between humans and the natural world
• Captured the effects of different seasons, weather conditions, and times of day
• Included both cultivated landscapes (gardens, parks) and wild, untamed nature

Post-Impressionism: Overview

• Emerged in the 1880s and 1890s as a response to and extension of Impressionism
• Encompassed a diverse range of artistic styles and approaches
• Sought to move beyond the purely visual concerns of Impressionism
• Explored more subjective and expressive modes of representation
• Laid the groundwork for many of the avant-garde movements of the 20th century

Reaction to Impressionism

• Retained some Impressionist techniques while rejecting others
• Sought to bring greater structure and form to painting
• Explored more subjective and emotional approaches to color and composition
• Reintroduced symbolic and narrative elements into painting
• Aimed to create art with deeper intellectual and emotional content

Emphasis on structure

• Focused on the underlying geometric forms and structures in nature
• Explored ways to represent three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface
• Experimented with flattening and distorting forms for expressive effect
• Developed more systematic approaches to composition and color
• Influenced by non-Western art forms (Japanese prints, African sculpture)

Symbolic and emotional content

• Moved beyond the purely visual concerns of Impressionism
• Used color and form to express emotional and psychological states
• Incorporated symbolic elements and personal iconography
• Explored themes of spirituality, primitivism, and the unconscious
• Sought to create art that communicated deeper truths about human experience

Major Post-Impressionist artists

• Represented a diverse group of painters with distinct styles and approaches
• Shared a desire to move beyond the limitations of Impressionism
• Developed innovative techniques that influenced 20th-century art movements
• Explored new ways of representing reality and expressing inner visions

Paul Cézanne

• Focused on creating a sense of structure and solidity in his paintings
• Developed a technique of building form through color planes
• Explored the underlying geometric shapes in nature (Mont Sainte-Victoire series)
• Influenced the development of Cubism with his late works
• Famous for his still lifes, landscapes, and bathers series

Vincent van Gogh

• Known for his bold, expressive use of color and brushwork
• Developed a highly personal style characterized by intense emotions
• Created landscapes, portraits, and still lifes with a strong spiritual dimension
• Famous works include "The Starry Night," "Sunflowers," and "The Potato Eaters"
• His tragic life story and prolific output have made him an iconic figure in art history

Paul Gauguin

• Sought to create a more primitive, symbolic form of art
• Developed a style characterized by flat areas of bold color and strong outlines
• Explored themes of exoticism and spirituality in his Tahitian paintings
• Influenced the development of Synthetism and Cloisonnism
• Notable works include "Vision After the Sermon" and "Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?"

Georges Seurat

• Developed the technique of Pointillism (also called Divisionism)
• Created paintings using tiny dots of pure color applied in a precise, scientific manner
• Explored the optical effects of color juxtaposition
• Famous for "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte"
• Influenced the development of Neo-Impressionism and later color theory

Post-Impressionist styles

• Encompassed a range of artistic approaches that built upon and diverged from Impressionism
• Explored new ways of organizing color and form on the canvas
• Influenced by scientific color theory, non-Western art, and symbolist ideas
• Laid the groundwork for many of the avant-garde movements of the 20th century

Pointillism

• Developed by Georges Seurat and Paul Signac
• Used small, distinct dots of pure color applied in a precise pattern
• Based on scientific theories of optical color mixing
• Aimed to create luminous effects through the juxtaposition of complementary colors
• Influenced later developments in color theory and abstract art

Cloisonnism

• Characterized by flat areas of color enclosed by dark outlines
• Inspired by medieval stained glass and Japanese woodblock prints
• Developed by Émile Bernard and Louis Anquetin
• Adopted and popularized by Paul Gauguin
• Emphasized the two-dimensional nature of the canvas

Synthetism

• Sought to synthesize external appearance, the artist's emotions, and aesthetic considerations
• Developed by Paul Gauguin and the Pont-Aven school
• Characterized by simplified forms, bold colors, and symbolic content
• Influenced by Japanese prints, medieval art, and folk art
• Aimed to create a more subjective and spiritual form of art

Influence on modern art

• Post-Impressionist innovations paved the way for many 20th-century art movements
• Challenged traditional notions of representation and artistic purpose
• Explored new ways of organizing color and form on the canvas
• Influenced the development of both figurative and abstract art styles

Cubism and Fauvism

• Cubism drew inspiration from Cézanne's approach to structure and form
• Fauvism built upon the expressive use of color in Van Gogh and Gauguin's work
• Both movements further abstracted and distorted natural forms
• Cubism (Picasso, Braque) explored multiple viewpoints and fragmented forms
• Fauvism (Matisse, Derain) emphasized bold, non-naturalistic use of color

Expressionism

• Influenced by Van Gogh's emotional intensity and use of color
• Developed in Germany and Austria in the early 20th century
• Sought to express inner emotional states through distorted forms and bold colors
• Key artists include Edvard Munch, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, and Wassily Kandinsky
• Explored themes of anxiety, alienation, and spirituality in modern life

Abstract art

• Post-Impressionist experiments with color and form laid the groundwork for abstraction
• Seurat's Pointillism influenced early abstract explorations of color relationships
• Cézanne's structural approach inspired Cubism and later geometric abstraction
• Kandinsky's early abstract works drew on the expressive use of color in Post-Impressionism
• Abstract art movements (De Stijl, Suprematism) further developed these ideas

Legacy of Impressionism

• Revolutionized the way artists approached painting and representation
• Influenced the development of modern art throughout the 20th century
• Continues to shape contemporary artistic practices and public perceptions of art
• Remains one of the most popular and recognizable styles in art history

Impact on art history

• Marked a crucial turning point in the development of modern art
• Challenged traditional academic conventions and hierarchies
• Expanded the range of subjects considered suitable for fine art
• Influenced the development of photography and cinema
• Paved the way for more radical artistic experiments in the 20th century

Popularity and criticism

• Initially met with hostility from critics and the public
• Gradually gained acceptance and popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• Became widely celebrated and collected by museums and private collectors
• Criticized by some for its perceived lack of social engagement or deeper meaning
• Continues to be a subject of scholarly debate and reinterpretation

Influence on contemporary art

• Techniques of broken color and optical mixing still used by many painters
• Plein air painting remains popular among landscape artists
• Emphasis on capturing fleeting moments and atmospheric effects persists in various media
• Influence visible in contemporary approaches to color, light, and representation
• Continues to inspire artists exploring the boundaries between abstraction and representation