Impressionism in Art
The Impressionist movement in art is one of the most influential and innovative movements to have been birthed in the artistic landscape of the 19th century. In a staggering fashion, it emphasizes the new drive for artistic freedom and autonomy, and the outbreak of light-based styles of painting. The emergence of the Impressionist movement proved groundbreaking for the new levels of visual expression and truly inspiring pieces of artwork which it produced.
Impressionism – A Survey of its Origin
The term ‘Impressionism’ was first coined in 1874 by art critic Louis Leroy and it was later connected to the art movement in Paris by the 1880s. The paintings of this period, and this movement, therefore provide us with a sense of value, a vivid time span of the artistic revolution and a very special insight into the technological achievements arising primarily in France.
The idea of the Impressionist movement stemmed from growing artist sentiment which recognized the restrictions set in place by the tools, customs and ideals of French 19th-century culture. This sentiment lead eventually to the emergence of the new-age Impressionist movement which allowed painters unprecedented freedom of expression.
List of Impressions
The driving force behind the Impressionist movement in art lies in the basic aesthetic principles of the artist. Here is a list of aesthetic values which inspired the Impressionist movement:
• The accuracy and immediacy of optical sensations
• Asserting the autonomy of the artist in developing their individual style
• Exploring textures, shapes and colours through the manipulation of light and light reflections
• Capturing the spontaneity and fleeting moment of the subject
• Capturing dynamic composition shifts through the expressive use of brush strokes and techniques
• The use of techniques such as cropping and the breaking-up of space
The Innovating Painters
The movements innovators include several important French artists, all of whom pulled away from the control of the French Academy, notably Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, Paul Cézanne and Camille Pissarro. Other famous figures such as Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas and Édouard Manet were also influential throughout the founding and development of the Impressionist movement.
The techniques established by the innovative artists within the movement opened the door for a renewed sense of exploration and departure from 19th-century traditions. Their techniques focused on the story and beauty of everyday life, with narratives that embodied a deep connection to daily life, exploration of subtle lighting effects and an emphasis on the capturing of fleeting impressions. In the works created by the Impressionist painters, viewers witness an entirely new approach to art which abandons the more formal painting practices of the time and allows a much more direct and personal observation of the subject being portrayed.
The Innovative Grounds of Artistic Expression
The Impressionist movement in art provided an abundant range of innovative grounds for artistic expression, by allowing artists to express themselves more authentically and with greater freedom than ever before. It placed emphasis on solely on painting for its own sake, as well as liberating the artist from traditional societal conventions.
The innovative grounds for expression established by the Impressionist movement was so profound, it has resonated through throughout the entirety of the art world, even reaching the 21st century. From the pictorial style to the psychological effects generated by the paintings and the explorations of new materials, practices and techniques, all of which were enabled by an individualistic outlook and a consequent rejection of established traditional and scholarly imaginative conventions.
Creative Use of Colour and Paint
The Impressionist artists wanted to truly capture the reflective qualities of light which they observed. For that to occur, they needed to find the materials which enabled them to capture those ever-changing, subtle reflections of light. They realized that pigments, when mixed in various strengths, could create a range of shades, tones, and hues to simulate the ever-varying effects of sunlight in their work.
Moreover, the pigments and various mix-ability of paints meant that a painter could produce more skilful variations and colours which more specifically helped to express the moment they wished to portray. Working in en plein air environments also enabled a painter to experiment with the pigments and to capture at optimal moments the very subtle nuances in lighting.
The Impressionist movement in art offered a wide range of innovative methods of artistic expression and pushed boundaries for societal conventions at the time. The influences associated with this movement in terms of the techniques, the creative use of colour and paint, as well as the emphasis on optical sensation and capturing the spontaneity and fleeting moment of the subject, have all left an indelible mark on the art world, allowing all artists of present generations to benefit from this immensely important evolutionary period of art.
The Impressionist movement in art provided a major evolutionary leap for artistic expression, opening the door for a renewed sense of exploration and departure from 19th-century traditions. It placed emphasis on solely on painting for its own sake, as well as liberating the artist from traditional societal conventions. Its influence is still felt even today through the use of its innovative methods of artistic expression and its creative use of colour and paint.
