Impressionism and Its Major Artists

Overview of Impressionism

• One of the most identifiable and famous art movements
• Often considered the first modern art movement
• Originated in April 1874 with a group of young artists' independent exhibition

First Impressionist Exhibition

• Included works by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Edgar Degas, and Berthe Morisot

Characteristics of Impressionist Art

• Loosened brushwork and lightened palettes
  • Use of pure, intense colors
• Abandonment of traditional linear perspective
• Often avoided clarity of form
• Captured the impression of a scene through lively brushstrokes
• Often worked en plein air (outdoors), producing works rapidly
• Preference for spontaneous works over calculated ones
• Focused on capturing the fleeting effects of light, weather, and time of day

Evolution of Subject Matter

• 1870s: Focus on landscapes
• 1880s: Artists expanded beyond landscapes
  • Renoir turned to figure painting
  • Monet explored visual perspective through seriality and repetition
  • Degas focused on female figures

Common Themes

• Changing Parisian life and the reality of the modern city
  • Café scenes, railway bridges, busy boulevards

Prominent Female Artists

• Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt
• Berthe Morisot's dedication
  • Joined the first exhibition and agreed never to send work to the Salon
  • Exhibited at all eight Impressionist exhibitions from 1874 to 1886
  • Preoccupied with capturing light, influenced by Monet's work

Impact on Subsequent Art and Artists

• Influenced artists like Vincent van Gogh and Edgar Munch
• Roy Lichtenstein paid homage to Monet

Cultural Impact

• Aesthetic qualities of Impressionism widely popular
• Significant impact on modern culture and art