Impressionism was an artistic movement that was born in France in 1860 and was characterized by artists trying to capture light in natural areas and in everyday situations through thick brush strokes or smudges. Therefore, bright and vivid colors were used in this movement.
It was called Impressionism because painters didn’t use lines; however, if the painting was observed from a certain distance, it gave the “impression” that there were certain lines and figures that gave meaning to the painting. Likewise, the word was taken from a painting by Claude Monet titled Impression, Rising Sun (1872).
In general, impressionist paintings are made of colored brush strokes that together form elements and figures. However, this cannot be seen up close (because up close they look like dots); it is necessary to distance oneself in order to visualize the forms, lights and shadows reflected in the painting.
The Impressionist movement is essentially pictorial; however, years later, other arts took on elements and characteristics of this style. For example, some critics claim that the composer Claude Debussy (1862-1918) introduced certain impressionistic features into his musical pieces.
origin and history
Photography as the enemy of painting
Impressionism had its origins in the Barbizon School, where artists gathered to paint outdoors and draw inspiration from natural environments. From this school, the Impressionists liked the landscapes and the beauty and luminosity of nature.
During this period, photography began to develop, which captures reality as it is. This notoriously affected painters, who did not know how to justify portraits and landscapes when a camera could do so almost instantly.
For this reason, painters looked for a way to depict things in a different way, which did not resemble a photograph. In this way, they moved away from lines and volume to focus on the way the eye perceives colors and shapes through light.
critical reception
Although Impressionism was not widely accepted by the academies at first (they considered it strange and vulgar), this pictorial movement was very famous, especially in European regions.
At that time, France was considered the birthplace of art, many artists from all over the world came to this country to educate themselves and learn about new trends. This allowed painters and travelers to spread the new techniques of Impressionism throughout the world.
Impressionism reached its peak after 1873, when painters such as Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro and Pierre Renoir were consecrated as artists and main representatives of the new style.
It is worth mentioning that, although Impressionism followed a series of principles, each of these painters interpreted it according to their artistic needs.
For example, Edgar Degas (1834-1917) focused on capturing the sense of movement in the portrait of dancers, while Monet preferred natural and aquatic environments; This is how it is seen in his work The water lilies (made between 1920 and 1926).
Features of Impressionism
Although the Impressionist movement was born in France in the mid-19th century, it was influenced by German Romanticism and adopted certain notions from the style of English landscape painters.
For example, from painters such as John Constable (1776-1837) and Joseph Turner (1775-1851), the Impressionists liked faded and intense colors such as red and yellow.
Also important were the contributions of Édouard Manet (1832-1883) – friend and tutor of several Impressionist painters – who were one of the first painters to be interested in the effects of light on the perception of figures and colors.
In addition, this painter also began to stand out from the use of line and began to use thicker brush strokes. This is seen in his painting Lunch on the Grass (1863).
Taking these aspects into account, the following characteristics can be established in the painting:
– Interest in landscapes and everyday situations
The Impressionists focused the subjects of their paintings on natural elements and everyday situations. These painters used to paint outdoors and liked to depict lakes, roads, meadows and forests; This can be seen in the works of Claude Monet.
They also developed an interest in the everyday situations of human beings; They used to depict smiling children, ladies playing in the forest or people eating and partying. This can be seen in the paintings of Auguste Renoir (1841-1919).
– Vivid and pure colors
The Impressionists experimented with color extraordinarily; They played with the chiaroscuro technique and used different tones to cause different visual sensations.
Also, in the 19th century, new pigments (that is, new materials with which ink is made) were created, allowing the Impressionists to use purer and more intense colors. In turn, this served as a support for experimenting with the lighting of the figures.
– Thick and short brush
Some considered that Impressionism used stains to develop its paintings. It was actually a type of brushstroke (later called the Gestalt brushstroke ) characterized by being thick and short.
These brushstrokes were composed of pure colors and – when combined with other brushstrokes of different colors – from a distance, they not only illuminated the painting, but also the movement.
That is to say, the Impressionist brushstrokes by themselves meant nothing, but when brought together they formed a totality that was luminous and vibrant before the viewer’s eyes.
Representatives and works
Claude Monet (1840-1926)
This painter of French nationality is considered one of the fathers of Impressionism; in fact, the term was taken from one of his most famous works: Impression, Rising Sun (1872).
Before 1860, his works were realistic (that is, they portrayed reality as faithfully as possible). But then he started to develop a completely different style, focused on lighting and thick brushstrokes.
Monet enjoyed painting outdoors, especially in the gardens of his home in Giverny (a place tourists can visit today). Here he produced a series of paintings known as Water lilies, inspired by the ponds in his home.
Another of his best-known works was the Rouen Cathedral series (produced in 1895). This work was composed of several portraits of the cathedral that were taken at different times of the day; In this way, Monet was able to capture how the building’s colors changed depending on the sunlight.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)
He was a French painter who stood out for his portraits of the female figure, set in natural landscapes. He was a very special artist who, through brushstrokes, managed to capture very particular vibrations and light in his works.
This can be seen in paintings such as Las gran bathers (1884), where female bodies have striking lighting and rosy nuances. In addition, the water‘s brushstrokes allow the viewer to perceive movement and vitality.
Renoir also made paintings focused on the everyday situations of human life. This can be seen in his works The Luncheon of the Oarsmen (1881) and The Dance at the Moulin de la Galette (1876). Renoir was characterized by portraying the most beautiful aspects of human life and nature.
Berthe Morisot (1841-1895)
Although the art world had been reserved for male authors, there were also female artists who devoted themselves to the Impressionist movement. This is the case of Berthe Morisot, who developed an extensive artistic career over three decades, starting to exhibit her paintings at the age of 23.
Her paintings focused on portraits of her own life, as well as her perception of female activities. This is seen in his work La cuna (1872) and in Mujer en su baño (1875).
Morisot’s style was permeated with light and color, distinguished by his loose brushstrokes and his avoidance of traditional forms.
Mary Cassatt (1844-1926)
She was an American painter, who spent most of her life in France feeding on Impressionist ideals. She was friends with Edgar Degas, who introduced her to the art world.
The subject of her paintings was focused on everyday and social life, especially of women. One of her favorite subjects was motherhood and children.
This can be seen in her works Motherhood (1890), Children on the Beach (1884), Jules Drying Up for Her Mother (1900) and Madame Meerson and Her Daughter (1899). The color palette used by Cassatt was very varied: from pastel tones to dark tones such as browns and grays.
Édouard Manet (1832-1883)
One of the greatest references of impressionism in France. Upon discovering Diego de Velázquez and starting to deal with other artists, such as Monet, his work begins to take on connotations of the Impressionist movement. Music in the Tuileries , Olympia or The Balcony are some of his most outstanding creations.
Edgar Degas (1834-1917)
He was one of the promoters of Impressionism, although he distanced himself from this trend. His style is very particular, because he managed to capture spontaneity, both in a specific figure and in a group. He showed Delacroix techniques and some of his most notable creations were Male Nude (1856), Rape (1869) or The Singer with Gloves (1878).
Impressionism in Spain
Spain was one of the European countries that most fed on the impressionist tendency. In fact, many Spanish artists have traveled to France to learn about new trends and be inspired.
Spanish painters took from Impressionism the taste for landscapes and natural environments; also the loose brushstrokes and the striking colors. However, each has added its own unique perspective. This is seen in the style of Joaquín Sorolla and Darío de Regoyos y Valdés.
Joaquin Sorolla and Bastida (1863-1923)
He was a very successful painter who went on to make 2,200 paintings. His style is primarily Impressionist, although he had some characteristics of the Post-Impressionist and Luminist movements.
Sorolla often used a pastel color palette, which can be seen in his works Niños en la playa (1910), Paseo por la playa (1909) and in the portrait of Raquel Meller (1918). However, he also used shades of red and brown; This is shown in his self-portrait (1909).
Darío de Regoyos y Valdes (1857-1913)
He was a Spanish Impressionist-style painter who also experimented with pointillism and symbolism. His work colors were very varied; for example, in his painting Almendros en flor (1905), he used a bright palette of blues and greens. On the other hand, in his work Good Friday in Orduña (1903), he used dark colors composed of shades of brown.
Aureliano de Beruete (1845-1912)
Upper class man who had the opportunity to dedicate himself totally to painting. His most notable stage is the Impressionist, where he matures as an artist. The apple orchards (1908), autumn in Madrid (1910) and thorns in bloom (1911).
Ignacio Pinazo (1849-1916)
Valencian, he got scholarships to train in Rome. Upon returning, his theme varied in works of a historical or Valencian type. Dark colors stand out in paintings such as Las hijas del Cid (1879) or Estación (1896).
Impressionism in Mexico
Like Spanish artists, Mexican painters were also influenced by French currents. However, artists from this country have added local and cultural scenes from Mexico to their paintings. This can be seen in the works of Joaquín Clausell.
Joaquin Clausell Traconis (1866-1935)
He was a Mexican painter who also acted as an activist and lawyer. His work was Impressionist in style and focused on the landscapes of Mexico. When he traveled to France, he was able to meet important artists such as Camille Pisarro and the writer Émile Zola, who motivated him in his pictorial vocation.
His paintings were strictly landscape; This can be seen in his work Landscape with Forest and River (1910), where the artist manages to capture the movement of water and leaves thanks to the use of impressionist brushstrokes.
It is important to note that later Impressionist techniques inspired great Mexican artists such as Diego Rivera (1886-1957) and Frida Kahlo (1907-1954).
Impressionism in Argentina
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Argentina had notable artists who were influenced by French techniques; This happened not only in the field of painting, but also in literature.
Like the Mexicans, Argentine artists adopted Impressionist principles and adapted them to the needs of their nation and culture. This can be seen in the works of Martín Malharro and Ramón Silva.
Martín Malharro (1865-1911)
Malharro was an Argentine painter who adopted certain impressionist techniques to portray the beauty of Argentine landscapes. Among its color palette, the green, blue and yellow tones stand out; This can be seen in one of his most popular paintings known as Las Parvas (1911).
These colors are also seen in his work entitled Nocturno (1911), which consists of a landscape composed of several shady trees and a modest house with blue roofs.
Ramon Silva (1890-1919)
Ramón Silva was a student of Martín Malharro, so his works were influenced by his teacher‘s style. In 1911, he managed to tour the European continent, visiting the countries of Holland, Spain, Belgium and Switzerland. He was also able to study in Paris for four years.
Silva stood out for his colorful landscapes; Among his most popular works is the painting Palermo (1918), where the author focused on the use of shades of pink, green, yellow and blue. The brushstroke of this artist was characterized by being very blurred.
Fernando Fader (1882-1935)
It was the germ of the movement in Argentina. Born in Bordeaux, this gave him the opportunity to absorb European trends, being carried away by German Impressionism.
He wanted to introduce this movement in Argentina, so he organized an exhibition and formed the Nexus group, made up of traditional Argentine painters such as Carnacini or Dresco.
Her most important works are The Manila Shawls , Women’s Study , The Mantilla , Pigs’ Food .
