Impressionism Flashcards

Flashcards about Impressionism

What was the origin of Impressionism?

Impressionism arose from a rejection of strict stylistic rules enforced by government-funded salons like the Académie des Beaux–Arts.

Why were Impressionist painters rejected by salons?

Impressionist painters' works were rejected by salons due to critics from the Realist movement finding their work incomplete and messy.

How did Impressionists respond to being excluded from prestigious institutions?

Impressionist artists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet, and Edgar Degas organized their own exhibitions without government support.

What did the rebellion against strict forms show in Impressionism?

Rejection of Realism's seriousness and formality, which made Realist art somewhat unrealistic by limiting the scope of acceptable perspectives.

What historical events influenced Impressionism?

France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) and the suppression of the Paris Commune in 1871

What was Impressionism's attitude about Truth?

To depict the world as it really was but lacked the political agenda of the preceding movement.

What was Impressionism's attitude about Fun?

Sought the pleasant aspects of everyday life.

What was Impressionism's attitude toward Modernity?

Believed that the modern world had much to offer and could be beautiful.

What was Impressionism's attitude toward Instant Objectivity?

Obsessed with their instant perceptions, their first impressions of anything they saw and held that brief moment was priceless to them.

What was Impressionism's attitude toward Experimentation?

Disliked the constraints of established styles and sought to try new things in their paintings.

What role did 'Outdoors' play in Impressionism?

Painting en plein air (outdoors) to observe natural light and its effects, which naturally led to a return to landscapes and brighter paintings.

How did 'Snap shots' or photography impact Impressionist artists?

Impressionists strived to reflect the instantaneousness captured by cameras in their paintings that reflected fleeting moments with fuzzy or blurred images that suggested their movement.

Which social class did Impressionists often portray?

The Impressionists often portrayed the Middle Class, featuring them having fun in the cafes and parks of Paris and displaying their fine clothes and accessories.

What is meant by Boundlessness in Impressionism

Impressionists deliberately left their objects somewhat undefined, leaving visible, agitated brush strokes visible on their canvases.

What kind of colors did Impressionists typically use?

Bright pastel palettes with blues, beiges, pinks, lilacs, lavenders and whites that soothingly reflect bright sunlight captured en plein air.

What was a key event that affected France during the Impressionism movement?

France, which was the epicenter of Impressionism, had been defeated by newly-unified Germany in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)

How did industrialization impact the Impressionism movement, specifically regarding railroads?

Railroads connected cities like Paris with affluent suburbs like Argenteuil or the sea, where artists returned to painting landscapes

What was the Long Depression and how did it affect the accessibility of leisure activities?

The Long Depression, a period of extremely weak economic growth punctuated by severe economic downturns and financial crises from 1873 to 1893, placed the life of ballets, cafes and promenades out of reach for most people.

What led to the decline of Impressionism in the 1890s?

Rising tensions in society, whether between workers and factory owners or Republican and Monarchist politicians endlessly squabbling in France, made people want to express themselves in a way that capturing fleeting glances could no longer satisfy by the 1890s