ImpressionismKnown as the first modern art movement in painting

19TH CENTURY (1870’S AND 80’S)

ORIGINATED IN PARIS

Beginnings

Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, Frederic Bazille and Auguste Pierre Renoir began to revolt against the traditional art style. They started painting outdoors, which itself was considered to be quite revolutionary.

The first Impressionist paintings were created in the forest of Fontainebleau and at a nearby little lake. The four friends wanted to catch the impression of the moment and to show the effects of light. The Impressionists used quick brush strokes and bright colors. In the eyes of their critics these paintings looked unfinished and sloppily made.

It was clear that the Impressionist works would be refused by the Salon. So the Impressionists established their own Salon des Refuses, the show of the refused ones. This exhibition had no judges. Every artist who paid a small fee, was allowed to show his art works

Characteristics

Modern-rejected established styles

Short, thick brushstrokes

Ordinary subject matter- landscapes and leisure activities

Bright colors painted side by side with little mixing

Less attention to detail

Natural light

Edouard Manet

A Bar at the Folies-Bergère1881-1882

Famous for the inaccuracy of the barmaid and man’s reflections/ perspective. She is centralized and looks at the viewer who must be standing directly opposite and facing her in order to see her head-on. At the same time, the reflection (in the mirror) of her back can only be understood if the viewer is standing to the right (her proper left)

Also know for filling the canvas with reflective surfaces

Edgar Degas (1834-1917)

He did not paint en plein air like other Impressionist artist and he kind of rejected the term saying he was a realist

Most famous for his renditions of ballet dancers and race horses

He was great friends with Manet and Cassatt

"La Classe de Danse", 1874

.Influenced by Japanese prints and especially by photography

Degas diverged from the traditional ideas of balanced arrangements. He introduced what appeared to be accidental cutoff views, off-center subjects, and unusual angles, all quite carefully planned .

Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, 1878–1881pigmented beeswax, clay, metal armature, rope, paintbrushes, human hair, silk and linen ribbon, cotton and silk tutu, linen slippers, on wooden baseoverall without base: 38 15/16 x 13 11/16 x 13 7/8 in. weight: 49 lb. (22.226 kg)National Gallery of Art, Washington, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon