Art Movements and Key Artists of the 19th Century

Realism and Its Transition to Impressionism

• Mid-1800s Context

  • American and French revolutions inspired focus on everyday people's rights.
  • Artists began focusing on real-life depictions, leading to Realism.

• Jean-Baptiste Camille Carreau (Corot)

  • Developed a new brushwork style capturing nature's immediacy.
  • Techniques: Wispy strokes, light touch, dry brush for fresh appearance, dabs of highlights.
  • Worked outdoors, added white to paints to reflect natural colors and light.
  • Considered a precursor to Impressionism.

Impressionism

• Édouard Manet

  • Bridged Realism and Impressionism.
  • Influenced by Asian art; used patches of color, less shading, harsh outlines.
  • Popularized 'alla prima' technique: single layer, impasto paint.
  • Inspired future Impressionists but not considered one due to use of black and not exhibiting with them.

• Impact of Technology

  • Camera: Freed artists from realistic depiction.
  • Paint tubes & ready-made canvases: Enabled outdoor painting, leading to quicker techniques.

• Claude Monet

  • Key Impressionist figure, developed style in the 1870s.
  • Techniques: Short, quick brushstrokes for changing light, added white to colors.
  • Painted finished works on location with Renoir; repeated scenes for completion.

• Pierre-Auguste Renoir

  • Used thinner paint, translucent layers; feathering effect with a hog hairbrush.
  • Wet-on-wet technique; incorporated Cezanne’s brushwork later.

Post-Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism

• Paul Cezanne

  • Bridged Impressionism and Cubism; father of modern art.
  • Style: Flat forms, dark outlines, repetitive brushstrokes, focus on color.

• Neo-Impressionism

  • Sought orderly brushwork and color purity.
  • George Seurat: Invented Pointillism; focused on scientific methods for light.

• Post-Impressionism Focus

  • Emphasized emotions rather than direct representation.
  • Key Artists: Van Gogh, Gauguin.

• Vincent Van Gogh

  • Emphasized emotional expression with bold colors and heavy impasto.
  • Known for rhythmic brushstrokes.
  • Short career, but lasting impact.

• Paul Gauguin

  • Pioneered Cloisonnism style; large flat color areas with distinct outlines.
  • Compared to pre-Renaissance tempera; less focus on brushwork.

Conclusion

• Art in the 19th century was marked by transitions from realism to impressionism and beyond.
• Artists experimented with color, brushwork, and form, leading to modern artistic movements.