Impressionism Flashcards
Impressionism
Definition: An art movement that emerged around the 1860s and lasted until the 1900s.
Focus: Capturing "the wonder of light."
Claude Monet (1840-1926)
Notable Work: Impression, Sunrise (1872).
Salon des Refusés
Origin: Arose from the large number of artworks rejected from the official Salon.
Napoleon III's Intervention: Emperor Napoleon III ordered a special exhibition called the Salon des Refusés to showcase these rejected works at the Palais de l'Industrie.
Historical Significance:
Marked a turning point in art history, initiating the break between academic and independent art.
Weakened the power of the academy.
Led to the birth of the avant-garde movement.
Public Reaction: The public initially ridiculed the works displayed at the Salon des Refusés.
Artist Response: Impressionists and other artists began organizing their own independent exhibitions.
Avant-Garde Definition: Artists who pioneered new approaches, styles, or techniques in defiance of the establishment.
The term derives from ‘vanguard’, referring to the leading unit in an army.
Statistics: In 1863, only 2800 out of 5000 artworks were accepted at the Salon.
Background of Impressionism
Alternative Exhibition (1874): Rejected artists organized an alternative exhibition in the studio of photographer Nadar.
Louis Leroy's Critique:
Journalist and critic Louis Leroy wrote a critical review.
He coined the term "Impressionism" based on Claude Monet’s painting Impression, Sunrise, using it derisively.
Leroy considered Monet’s painting to be merely a sketch, not a finished work.
Public Acceptance: The Impressionists quickly gained favor from the public.
Artist Adoption of the Term: The artists themselves accepted the title because they were unified by their spirit of independence and rebellion, despite their diversity in style and temperament.
Exhibitions: The Impressionists exhibited together eight times between 1874 and 1886.
Influences on Impressionism: The Landscape
Traditional View of Landscape Painting: Before Impressionism, landscape paintings were considered of lesser importance by the Salon.
Nature was not seen as noble or permanent enough unless idealized and combined with figures.
Constable's Contribution: Constable broke from tradition by painting landscapes in pure colors with love and respect.
Romanticism's Influence:
Avoidance of overworked paintings.
Emphasis on the artist as an individual.
Encouragement to search for new expressions, even if against accepted opinions.
Barbizon Group:
Painted outside (en plein air) since 1827.
Made precise studies of changing light.
Used small brushstrokes.
Impact of Industrialization: The dramatic and unpleasant industrialization strengthened the appreciation of nature.
Social Changes:
More informal times.
Increased time spent outdoors by most people (except the very poor).
Open-air activities such as Sunday outings in the countryside, dances, and café visits became part of daily life.
Example: Claude Monet Haystacks 1890-91 Oil on Canvas
Influences on Impressionism: Science and Colour
Scientific Awareness: The Impressionists were aware of scientific discoveries related to color, likely through popular brochures, but did not strictly adhere to scientific rules.
Chevreul's Influence: Chevreul, a French pharmacist, was a major influence.
Colors in close proximity influence and change one another.
A color on its own appears to be surrounded by a vague halo of its complementary color.
From a distance, two different color threads appear as one color.
Influences on Impressionism: The Role of the Camera
Camera's Popularity: By 1850, the camera was in common use.
Impact on Impressionists:
Early glass plate photos with their blurred effect when moving objects were photographed influenced the Impressionists.
Impressionist paintings often represent simple, spontaneous scenes from everyday life, resembling snapshots.
People and objects sometimes move out of the frame.
The frame crops the scene, similar to a photograph.
Effect: This heightens the spontaneity of the works.
Example: Edgar Degas Bath 1881 Pastel on Paper
Influences on Impressionism: Japanese Prints
Arrival in France: By the 1860s, Japanese prints, initially used as wrapping paper for imported goods, arrived in France.
Profound Influence: These prints had a significant impact on artists.
Contributions:
'Snapshot' angles.
Unconventional compositions.
Note:* became characteristic of the style.
Example: Japanese Print
Characteristics: Themes
Common Subjects: Everyday scenes, including:
Sunlit streets.
Landscapes (often with water).
Flower gardens.
Open-air cafés.
Some interior scenes.
Joi-de-vivre (Joy of Life): The theme of joy of life is a recurring element.
Example: Pierre-Auguste Renoir La Grenouillère 1869 Oil on Canvas
Characteristics: Colour and Light
Working Method: The Impressionists worked outside, directly in nature.
Colour Mixing: Limited mixing of colours on the palette because mixed colours lose their brilliance.
Optical Mixing: Placing blobs of color next to each other for the viewer to mix optically from a distance.
Complementary Colours: Obtained brightness by placing complementary colors next to each other.
Use of Black: Avoided pure black, as it is not found in nature.
Color Palette: Use of light colors, dark colors (indigo, green, and violet), and greys produced by mixing complementary colors. Shadows shown with complementary colors.
Light and Shade: Created by color, not by mixing black and white.
Example: Claude Monet Poplars on the Epte 1891 Oil on Canvas
Characteristics: The Fleeting Moment
Capturing Sunlight: Captured the fleeting effects of sunlight by painting en plein air.
Equipment: Paint in tubes allowed artists to easily transport their studio equipment.
Commitment to Observation: Committed to observing the effects of light on color in nature.
Subjectivity: Reality does not lie in objective nature (trees, mountains, etc.) but in the eyes of the viewer.
Dynamic Reality: Nothing is static, and different times of day (mornings, afternoons, and evenings) present different realities.
Example: John Singer Sargent Claude Monet Painting by the Edge of the Wood 1885 Oil on Canvas
Characteristics: Brushwork
Painting Speed: Rapid painting techniques.
Brushstrokes: Short, visible brushstrokes, sacrificing outline and detail.
Optical Colour Mixing: Colours are distinguishable but mixed optically by the viewer, creating a vibrant surface.
Impasto: Use of thick paint (impasto).
Example: Pierre-Auguste Renoir Two Sisters 1881 Oil on Canvas
Impressionism: Main Objective
Goal: To create a greater naturalism through the exact analysis of color to portray the play of light on surfaces.
Legacy:
It represents the logical end to the Western tradition of naturalism and perception.
The emphasis on portraying visual sensations led to the dissolving of shapes and the birth of Modernism.
Example: Claude Monet Water Lilies (Nymphéas) 1916 Oil on Canvas
Artwork Response: Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s Two Sisters (On the Terrace) (1881)
Influences
1. Landscape
Influence: The natural landscape is integral; Renoir often painted outdoor scenes to capture light and color in natural environments.
Where You See It: Background features a soft, glowing landscape with trees, a distant view, and blue skies, connecting the figures to nature.
Themes: Evokes everyday scenes and invites the viewer into a private outdoor moment, suggesting intimacy and leisure.
2. Science & Colour
Influence: The movement was deeply influenced by color theory, embracing the idea of mimicking the way light interacts with the world, instead of relying on traditional, darker palettes.
Where You See It: Uses a brilliant, warm palette—particularly oranges, yellows, and soft greens—to create a radiant and atmospheric effect. The light illuminates the figures' skin and fabric, showcasing an understanding of color theory and the effects of sunlight.
Themes: Captures the feeling of joie-de-vivre -- the joyful, exuberant feeling of being alive -- and ties into the fleeting moment, as the light and shadows shift, creating an ephemeral quality in the painting.
3. Camera
Influence: The rise of photography in the late 19th century to experiment with composition, capturing moments in ways that had not been done before. The “snapshot” effect - capturing a scene in an informal, spontaneous way.
Where You See It: The positioning of the two figures, with the focus on one woman in the foreground and the other positioned slightly behind, mimics a photographic approach to framing. The asymmetry and sense of candidness - both women appear relaxed, as though caught in a moment - reflect the influence of photography’s "snapshot" style.
Themes: This emphasis on the fleeting moment is a direct reflection of how cameras capture temporary glimpses of life, adding to the sense of immediacy in the painting.
4. Japanese Prints
Influence: The Japonisme movement, which brought Japanese art into European consciousness in the late 19th century, also had a profound impact on Impressionists. The influence is evident in the simplified composition, decorative qualities, and the use of bold lines and unusual angles.
Where You See It: Shows an interest in the bold, flat use of color and the simplicity of background elements, which are characteristic of Japanese prints. The way the figures are placed within the space, the large swathes of color surrounding them, and the lack of traditional perspective mirror the visual style found in Japanese art.
Themes: The use of Japanese aesthetics enhances the casual, serene nature of the scene, allowing the focus to stay on the figures and their connection to the environment. It also connects to everyday scenes, as many Japanese prints depicted ordinary life in a stylized, yet intimate way.
Additional Themes
Everyday Scenes: Renoir captures an intimate, quiet moment of two women on a terrace, engaging in what could be an everyday, leisurely activity.
Joie-de-Vivre: The radiant use of color and the light-filled scene suggest a celebration of life. The relaxed poses of the women convey a sense of enjoyment and carefree living.
Colour and Light: Renoir’s mastery of light and color is evident in the way sunlight dances on the women’s skin and their surroundings. The contrast between the shaded areas and those bathed in light reflects the transient qualities of natural light.
Fleeting Moment: The use of light and the informal, casual nature of the scene give the impression that this moment is fleeting, as though captured in time like a photograph. The slight blur of movement in the figures also supports this idea.
Brushwork: Renoir’s signature brushwork, characterized by short, fluid strokes, contributes to the vibrant energy of the painting. The brushwork helps convey the texture of the scene, from the soft fabric of the dresses to the dappled sunlight on the skin, enhancing the impression of immediacy and movement.
In summary, Renoir’s Two Sisters blends these influences and themes in a way that creates a rich, layered work. Each influence—whether it’s the landscape, the impact of science and color theory, the photography-inspired composition, or the influence of Japanese prints—intertwines with the central themes of color, light, fleeting moments, and everyday life to create an artwork that is both joyous and full of life.