Neo-Impressionism

• Time Period: 1886-1906

  • Coined by: Felix Feneon (critic)

• Founders Include:

  • Georges Seurat

  • Paul Signac

  • Camille Pissarro

• Characteristics:

  • Development from Impressionism but more scientific.

  • Spontaneous yet reflective, aiming for permanence.

• Innovations:

  • Scientific Color Theory:

  • Involves optical mixing through techniques known as Pointillism and Divisionism.

  • Utilizes color to express deeper structures and moods beyond natural appearances.

• Intellectual and Political Context:

  • Connected with Symbolism, emphasizing an art form that expresses personal desire and structure.

  • Advocated for art as a means of social change, political individuality, and anti-establishment sentiment.

  • Art should elevate daily life.

• Spread of Movement:

  • Gained traction in Europe, particularly evident at exhibitions.

  • Notably well-known after Seurat's painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" was exhibited in Brussels in 1887.

  • Seurat was referred to as the "messiah of new art" in the Netherlands following a significant exhibition in The Hague in 1892.

• Decline:

  • Experienced a decline after Seurat's death in 1891.

  • Notably, Camille Pissarro described the post-Seurat period as "tedious".

  • Important revival noted in Signac's 1899 book, "From Delacroix to Neo-Impressionism", which later inspired the Fauves.

Artist Spotlight: Paul Cézanne

• Significance:

  • Bridged Impressionism and 20th Century Modernism.

  • Attempted to infuse structure into previously spontaneous Impressionist brushwork.

• Stylistic Periods:

  • Early Period (Before 1872):

  • Influenced by Romanticism; employed dark, thick paint with often violent subject matter.

  • Impressionist Period (1872-1882):

  • Exhibited in first Impressionist exhibit in 1874.

  • Utilizes light with built-up strokes while still focusing on the imaginary.

  • Synthesis Period (1883-1895):

  • Concentrated on structure; viewing nature as something to be interpreted rather than just recorded.

  • Simplified compositions into vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines to create clarity.

  • Late Period (1895-1906):

  • First major show in 1895, with multiple exhibitions afterward.

  • Employed more vibrant colors and fragmentation in his works.

• Importance:

  • Transformed Impressionist qualities into structural solidity.

  • Developed constructive strokes and the art of simplification.

  • Inspired subsequent movements such as Fauvism and Cubism.

  • Regarded as the "Father of Modern Art," though received mixed critical reception during his life, often labeled as unconventional.

Fauvism (1898-1906)

• Characteristics:

  • Use of unmixed, unnatural colors.

  • Broad and flat application of paint; expressive and descriptive use of color.

  • First avant-garde movement of the 20th century.

  • The term "Fauvism" translates to "wild beast," originating from the 1905 Salon d'Automne.

• Key Artists:

  • Henri Matisse

  • André Derain

  • Maurice de Vlaminck

• Historical Influences:

  • Gustave Moreau:

  • Influential mentor to Matisse; encouraged individuality in art.

  • Neo-Impressionism:

  • Early influence on Matisse and Derain stemming from Pointillism.

  • Exhibits of "primitive" art also played a significant role during this period.

• End of Fauvism:

  • Fauvism began to decline after 1907, particularly after artists observed Cézanne's works at the Salon d'Automne, pushing color expressions to further extremes.

• Importance:

  • Pioneered independent uses of color, moving away from color dependence on natural forms.

  • Set the stage for future styles including German Expressionism, Cubism, and Abstract art.

Artist Spotlight: Henri Matisse

• Overview:

  • French painter, draughtsman, sculptor, printmaker, and designer; known as a leader of Fauvism.

• Innovations:

  • Unique use of color as a structural element and expressionist technique.

  • Known for innovative representations of the human figure.

• Influences:

  • Early works (1897-1904) reflect impressionist influence through outdoor painting, fragmentation, and light play, heavily guided by Pissarro.

• Fauvism Phase (1904-1906):

  • Influenced by Signac; exhibited notable works that were considered “brutal” by critics during the 1905 Salon d'Automne.

• Post-Fauvism (1906-1910):

  • Transitioned into monumental designs focusing on balance, purity, and serenity.

  • Influenced heavily by Islamic art and his travels; created a range of decorative works.

• Legacy:

  • Established color as a fundamental aspect of structure and expression within art, inventing an innovative decorative art style.