Impressionism

The seeds of impressionism started in the early 1860’s by Monet, he was trained in the academic manner but he broke away from traditions, he was an important figure to bring about change in art. At that time Japan opened there borders and began to influence Europe, Monet was mostly struck by the Japanese prints. Monet was also known for his series, he used to paint the same thing in different light he also used to prepare sketches from before.   Impressionism began in France where a group of friends which included Monet, Pissarro, Sisley and Degas. They exhibited together in a studio of a photographer of the time named Nadar where a total of eight exhibitions took place. Impressionists where interested in the play of light on the object, at the time studies on light where being made which they responded to, because of the light the impressionists painted en plein-air which means that they needed to go outside to paint. Paintings were normally small to allow completion on the spot. Impressionist artists made brush strokes visible and where criticized for the unfinished look there paintings had.  There subject matter centered on the life around them which where landscapes, pastimes and chores. They where criticized for meaningless paintings. Impressionism was strongly influenced by the realists who had moved away from themes of academic art. They were also strongly influenced by simple and bold Japanese wood block prints which had bright colours, imprecise treatment of space and lack of modeling, one of the most famous wood block prints is The Wave by Hakusai.  Development in photography also influenced the impressionists. Early photography had long exposures which meant having light on both walls. Photography changed people’s lives in the 19 century.  In 1839 the photograph was made public but was 50 years in the making still the camera obscura and other drawing aids had existed for several years.

Impressionists Paintings.

Impression Sunrise 1872- Claude Monet

 The name was given by a critique who said that the painting was just an impression of a sunrise.  The brush strokes are rough and the colours vivid showing the new style.

The flooding at port marly 1872 – Alfred Sisley

Sisley painted more than one canvas of the flooding,  he painted the flood in an almost peaceful way as if it was part of the town.

Portrait of Mary Cassatt - Edgar Degas, c.1880-c.1884

The Orchestra at the Opera House. c.1870- Edgar Degas

This was the time where photography was popular and at that time it became commercial. At the time you had to pose for a photo and be very rigid and serious for the photo to be clear but these photos were very un-artistic. So portraits which were painted had to be different as photography would steal away the business. They simplified what they saw and used short broken brush strokes but they were still influenced by photography and did not fit everything in their paintings making them change the composition in there paintings.

Bibliography.

Portrait of Miss Cassatt, holding the cards - Mary Cassatt - WikiPaintings.org. 2013. Portrait of Miss Cassatt, holding the cards - Mary Cassatt - WikiPaintings.org. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/mary-cassatt/portrait-of-miss-cassatt-holding-the-cards. [Accessed 09 April 2013].

 Analysis of Claude Monet’s Impression, Sunrise | Incite. 2013. Analysis of Claude Monet’s Impression, Sunrise | Incite. [ONLINE] Available at:http://blogs.longwood.edu/incite/2012/01/30/analysis-of-claude-monet%E2%80%99s-impression-sunrise/. [Accessed 09 April 2013].

Flood at Port-Marly. 2013. Flood at Port-Marly. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg87/gg87-66436.html. [Accessed 09 April 2013].