Post-Impressionism

Post-impressionism

• against naturalism of Impressionism

• include Neo-impressionism and pointillism

• formalists vs. expressionists

How to tell if artwork is Post-Impressionist?

• lack of emotion OR very emotional

• pointillism

• spontaneity removed (form & clarity)

• thick, emotional, colorful brushstrokes

• woman & death

• gold leaf

Formalists vs. Expressionists

Formalists: artists who seek to reinstate form (ex: Seurat)

Expressionists: artists who seek to reinstate form & emotional content (ex: Van Gogh)

Neo-impressionism

• Developed by Seurat

• improve Impressionism using pointillism

• Removes spontaneity from Impressionism

Pointillism

A painting technique using small dots of color that blend when viewed from a distance

Who are Post-Impressionist artists?

Seurat, Cezanne, Vincent Van Gogh, Munch, Klimt

Georges Seurat’s Style + Example

• pointillism (small dot brushstrokes)

• NO EMOTION

• Impressionist: leisurely & light reflection

• Neo-Impressionist: frozen / static frontal figures, limited detail of human body, repeated geometric shapes (curves)

ex: Sunday on La Grande Jatte

Cezanne's Style

• Form & clarity (believes Impressionism is taken too war, lost composition)

• Continuous rather than a moment in time

• verticals / horizontals

• blocky, geometric shape

• multiple POVs → cubism

• tablecloth = diversion

Cezanne Examples

• Woman with a Coffee Pot (continuous time)

• Unfinished Landscape (V x H)

• Mont. Sainte-Victoire (geometric)

• Basket of Apples (multiple POV)

Cezanne's viewpoint approach

Use geometric lines and shapes that echo the landscape

Vincent van Gogh vs Cezanne

Van Gogh uses abstraction to express emotion, while Cezanne does not focus on emotion

Van Gogh's Style

• Post-impressionist, expressionist, symbolist

• Staccato, intense brushwork

• emotional / spiritual content

• Impasto

Impasto

A technique where paint is applied thickly, creating texture on the surface.

ex: The Starry Night

Van Gogh’s perspective

• sucks audience in by exaggerating space / depth (claustrophobic)

ex: The Night Cafe

Van Gogh & Dutch Heritage

• Vanitas paintings (Dutch Baroque Era, Rachel Ruysch)

ex: Sunflowers

• claustrophobic (flowers pushed to top)

• sunflowers = faithful friendship

• dying flowers = death

Munch's Style / Themes

• alienation

• sex (women’s ability to destroy men)

• Death or sickness

• thick, colorful brushstrokes

Munch Examples

• Puberty (fearful girl aware of her sexual power to destroy men, reference to Eve & shame)

• Death of Marat (focus on woman & sin, bowl of fruit, Marat = crucifixion pose, martyr)

• The Scream (push & pull, skull head, energetic red clouds)

Klimt was influenced by:

• art nouveau

• Van Gogh (symbolism & expressionism)

• ancient mosaics

Materials added by Klimt

Gold leaf

Klimt Examples

• Portrait of Adele (flowing curves, vibrant, feminine)

• The Kiss (love & union, geometric shapes divide gender roles)

Symbolism in art

Art that conveys specific visual symbols or equivalents, suggesting deeper meanings.

ex: Sunflowers = faithful friendship in Van Gogh’s Sunflower