The Impact of Impressionism

Genevieve Downing '22 ~ November 2021

Impression has most certainly left its mark on the world. While it is now considered an iconic and well-rounded style, it was previously rejected by artistic societies in the time of its founding. Artists were becoming bored of the fatigued teaching that art should depict historical or mythological subjects with literary or anecdotal overtones.

Previous to impression, the popular artistic style was known as realism. According to Brittannica, realism, in essence, was incredibly accurate and distinct, depicting everyday or contemporary life without the addition of any artistic liberties. Idealization in art was rejected completely, and things were cleanly displayed how they would have appeared to one viewing them through their own eyes. Realism did not pay mind to how unflattering or ordinary something appeared.

After being rejected from the artistic Salon, L’Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, artists Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissaro, and others set out to found their own artistic network. Together they created the Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, Printmakers, etc. in which they founded this new art form. These artists began to experiment with color, shifting away from the greens, browns, and grays that had characterized the previous period.

According to Britannica, “They began by painting the play of light upon water and the reflected colours of its ripples, trying to reproduce the manifold and animated effects of sunlight and shadow and of direct and reflected light that they observed. In their efforts to reproduce immediate visual impressions as registered on the retina, they abandoned the use of grays and blacks in shadows as inaccurate and used complementary colours instead."

As the Met Museum claims, much of impressionist work centers around plein air painting, or painting outside, in nature. This explains much of the bright color and naturistic scenes that encompass impressionism. A prevalent example of this is in the “founding father” of impressionism, Claude Monet. According to

TimeOut, In his work, light and atmosphere took the place of figures and subjects. He utilized bold colors and unusual compositions, furthering the open and fluid nature of the impressionist movement. His painting, titled Impression, soleil levant (Impression, Sunrise), named the movement.

Another famous artist was Éduard Manet. Manet, while considered a crucial member of the movement, differed in his compositions. He was influenced by Old Masters such as Hals, Goya, and Velaquez, however, modernizing them by introducing modern life into his works.

Perhaps the most famous impressionist painter was Edgar Degas, although he often referred to himself as a realist. He is iconic for his paintings of dancers and horse racing. Degas, unlike other artists of his time, did not focus on outdoor scenes, but instead followed a more calculated and meticulous approach.

Pierre August Renoir, according to TimeOut, painted the “good life” of his French subjects, displaying them in a “bohemian idyll, rendered in a lush, sensual style.” He also created landscapes along with his portraits, emphasizing bright colors and the beauty of life.

Mary Cassat is the most well-known female artist of the movement. She is known for her heavily domestic themes, often displaying scenes between mothers and daughters. Her later work centered around the period of fashion in France for Japanese art and design.

Impressionism marks the shift in the art world from overly realistic portrayals into ones that depicted the imagination. Today it remains one of the most beloved art styles, renowned around the world for its iconic style. Museums all over the world hold work from the movement, for instance, the Art Institute of Chicago’s impressionist wing, which is made up solely of impressionist paintings.

Title Photo: johnnyjohnson20430, Pixabay