Impressionism & Post-Impressionism - Quick Notes

Impressionism

  • Origin and timeline: France, late 19th century; 1874 group exhibition in Paris by the Anonymous Society launched the movement.

  • Name origin: from Claude Monet's painting, Impression, Sunrise.

  • Goals: depict ordinary life; focus on light, color, atmosphere; convey the impression of a moment, not a perfect copy.

  • Reception: initially criticized for looking unfinished; later celebrated for beauty of everyday life and emotion through color and light.

  • Key characteristics:

    • Visible brushstrokes

    • Use of light and vibrant colors; avoid black shadows; colors placed side by side for a glowing effect

    • En plein air (outdoor painting)

    • Everyday subjects: people, landscapes, city life

    • Varied techniques: Impasto; Pointillism

  • Notable artists:

    • Monet: founder; landscape and water lilies; Impression Sunrise; Water Lilies; Argenteuil; The Red Boats, Argenteuil; Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies; Irises in Monet's Garden

    • Renoir: emphasis on color and light; early real-life scenes; later more disciplined portraits and figure paintings; Luncheon of the Boating Party; Dancer; A Girl with a Watering Can

    • Manet: transitional figure from realism to modern art; modern life as subject; Argenteuil; Rue Mosnier Decked With Flags; The Bar at the Folies-Bergère; Café Concert

Post-Impressionism

  • Definition: extension of Impressionism; term coined by Roger Fry; exemplified by Cézanne and Van Gogh.

  • Aim: move beyond surface appearances; add structure, symbolism, inner emotional world; explore deeper truths; influenced later movements like Cubism, Fauvism, Abstract Art.

  • Key artists:

    • Paul Cézanne: sought order and structure; used shapes like circles, cylinders, cones; Mont Sainte-Victoire; The Basket of Apples; Harlequin; Château Noir; laid groundwork for modern art movements

    • Vincent van Gogh: color used to express emotion; bold, swirling brushstrokes; intense palette; distorted perspective for emotional effect; major works include Starry Night; Sunflowers; The Green Vineyard; The Yellow House; Bedroom in Arles; life in Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum; produced ~150 artworks during his stay

  • Techniques and approaches:

    • Impasto: thick paint with visible brushstrokes

    • Pointillism: dots of color forming an image

    • Bold outlines, geometric shapes, and emotional distortion (in some works)

  • Side note: Manet is often seen as a bridge between Realism and Impressionism; Post-Impressionism highlights Cézanne and Van Gogh as transformative figures

Key Differences Between Impressionism and Post-Impressionism

  • Style: Impressionism — loose, spontaneous brushwork; natural light; outdoor scenes; Post-Impressionism — personal, emotional, sometimes abstract

  • Subjects: Impressionism — everyday life; Post-Impressionism — same subjects with psychological depth or symbolic meaning

  • Techniques: Impressionism — short, broken brushstrokes; plein air; Post-Impressionism — varied techniques: Pointillism, bold outlines, geometric shapes, and emotional distortion

  • Philosophy: Impressionism — art as reflection of reality and momentary perception; Post-Impressionism — art as a means to explore inner world or deeper truths

Notable Artists and Works

  • Monet: Impressionist leader; Impression Sunrise; Water Lilies; Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies; La Promenade; Argenteuil; The Red Boats, Argenteuil; Irises in Monet's Garden

  • Renoir: Luncheon of the Boating Party; Dancer; A Girl with a Watering Can

  • Manet: Argenteuil; Rue Mosnier Decked With Flags; The Bar at the Folies-Bergère; Café Concert

  • Cézanne: Mont Sainte-Victoire; The Basket of Apples; Harlequin; Château Noir

  • Van Gogh: Starry Night; Sunflowers; The Green Vineyard; The Yellow House; Bedroom in Arles