Introduction to Impressionism
- Impressionism emerged in France in the second half of the 19th century. It
featured small, sharp, visible strokes that gave the impression of just enough
decoration; disharmonious colors; emphasized precise work, and natural
light.
- In 1874, a group of artists called the Society of Anonymous Painters,
Sculptors, Printmakers, etc. held an exhibition in Paris, initiating a movement
called Impressionism. whose independent exhibitions brought them fame in
the 1870s and 1880s, which the public initially resisted.
Historical Background of Impressionism
1. Birth
In the early 1860s, four young artists—Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir,
Alfred Sisley, and Frédéric Bazille—met while studying with the academic
painter Charles Gleyre. They discovered that they shared an interest in
landscapes and contemporary life.
During the 1860s, the Salon jury routinely rejected about half of the works
submitted by Monet and his friends in favor of works by artists who adhered
to the accepted style. Rejected by the Galleries and considered “scum,” the
artists, living in poverty, sought to make themselves known through private
exhibitions.
Later, individual artists received little financial reward from Impressionist
exhibitions, but their art gradually gained public acceptance and support. By
this time, Impressionist painting methods had become popular in Salon art.
2.1 Development
The main problem for the Impressionists was that the traditional art elite
despised the new style of painting they were creating, which depicted
modern situations with strong, loose brushstrokes. Impressionist paintings
were often rejected by the Academy of Fine Arts.
The harsh treatment they received from the art world led the Impressionists
to first propose holding their own exhibition in the 1860s. It was not until
1874 that the first exhibition took place. Thirty works by the artists, a total of
165 works, were exhibited. Many Impressionist paintings did not sell, critics
criticized most of the artworks, and audiences came mainly to laugh.
Between 1874 and 1886, they held eight Impressionist exhibitions.
3. Historical and Social Impact
Impressionism not only had a great influence on French art but also spread
globally and influenced many later art movements. This movement paved
the way for the birth of schools such as Post-Impressionism, Expressionism,
and Cubism. The emphasis on personal emotion, creative freedom, and the
break with traditional art forms created important premises for the
development of modern art.
3.1 History
Compositional Techniques: The Impressionists developed new techniques,
using short, sharp, bright strokes. Rather than detailing the objects in their
paintings, they worked to capture the immediate impression of light and
color that added to the atmosphere of the scene.
Influence on the following art movements: Impressionism not only influenced
the artists of its time, but also paved the way for later art movements.
Painters such as Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat, and Vincent
van Gogh, who followed the Impressionist movement, developed and
expanded on the techniques and ideas of Impressionism. The views on color,
light, and naturalness in creation had a profound influence on modern art
throughout the 20th century.
3.2 Society
Impressionism reasserted the working class, who were not elites, and in
doing so brought more people into creative leadership positions. This work
opened up the possibility for people to appreciate the value of small
moments in life. It complicated the concept of what could be “art” and
deepened the way one could understand society.
The Impressionist movement helped change the perception of art in society.
They truly represented not only the transformation of society but also its
liberation of creative freedom and freedom of personal expression.
Impressionist paintings were not just paintings of the outside world; they
were also paintings of the self, subjective internal responses to a changing
society. This marked a new beginning in art and thus influenced later art.
