Impressionism (Powerpoint presentation)

THE WORLD OF PAINTING IMPRESSIONISM

Impressionism is a 19th century artistic movement that swept much of the painting and sculpture styles of the period.

The Academie of Arts held annual art exhibits called Salon de Paris. Only works conforming to its standards were accepted. For artists, getting theirs works exhibited in the Salon meant winning prizes and opened up opportunities for commissions, newspaper reviews and building a reputation in the arts community.

In 1870s a new generation of artist appeared in Paris. They used lighter brush strokes and brighter colours. They paid less attention to details. They depicted less noble aspects of life. Their works were rejected by the established Salon year after year.

In 1863, the Academie rejected Manet’s Luncheon of the Grass for depicting a realistic nude lady posed with a couple of clothed men in a contemporary picnic setting.

A lot of works of other artists were rejected that year. They created the Salon of the Refused, an exhibition of works rejected by the Academie. It was a rebellion against the established artistic standards of the Academie. Many people came to the Salon only to laugh. But this exhibition drew attention to the existence of a new tendency in art and attracted more visitors than the regular Salon.

Claude MonetSunrise One of the newspaper reporters used the word “Impressionist” from Claude Monet’s painting entitled “Impression. Sunrise” to satirically describe the artists whose works he considered as being no more than unfinished sketches.

Characteristic features of Impressionist paintings are small, thin, yet visible brush strokes; open composition; emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities; common, ordinary subject matter; movement as the main element and unusual visual angles.

Claude Monet Claude Monet was a famous French painter whose work gave a name to the art movement Impressionism which was concerned with capturing light and natural forms.

Claude Monet Luncheon on the Grass

Edgar Degas is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism although he rejected the term, and preferred to be called a realist. Over half his works depict dancers. These display his mastery in the depiction of movement, as do his racecourse subjects and female nudes. His portraits are considered to be among the finest in the history of art.

Edgar Degas The Dance Class Race Horses

Pierre Auguste Renoir His early works were typically Impressionist snapshots of real life, full of sparkling colour and light. By the mid-1880s, however, he had broken with the movement to apply a more disciplined, formal technique to portraits and figure paintings, particularly of women.

Renoir was called the painter of happiness, because he painted lots of portraits of women and children.

Camille PissaroBoulevard Montmartre at Noon

Сezanne Paul Selfportrait Pierrot and Harlequin

Camille Pissarro