Impressionism (Origin)

Impressionism (Origin)

The Impressionist style is of painting is defined by only focusing on the general impression given off by a scene or object. The use of primary colours and small strokes to get realistic reflection of art.

Auguste Renoir, Oarsmen at Chatou, 1879

This was a major movement the the development of art later in music. This first started to develop in France   during the late 19th and early 20th century. A group of artists shared the same ideas about the technique and approach on the given theme. They  attempted to " accurately and objectively record visual reality in terms of transient effects of light and colour"

The major Impressionist painters were : Claud Monet, Pierre Auguste Roenoir, Camille Pisarro, Alfred Sisley, Berthe Morisot, Amand Guillaumin and Frederic Bazille. The artists worked together further influencing each other, exhibiting together and interdependently.

They called themselves Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, Printmakers, etc.

Also one of the main influence of Monet and other members of the group was a painter called Edouard Manet which later he adopted the Impressionist approach in about 1873.

Origin of the Word

It was derived from the words of a critique called  Louis Leroy. He criticized Cezanne and Monet only revealing the most harshest critiques commenting that their works are only unfinished sketches. He used the word "Impressionist" from Claude Monet's painting titled "Impression sunrise"

Impression Sunrise, Claude Monet, 1873.

His exact words were : " Impression—I was certain of it. I was just telling myself that, since I was impressed, there had to be some impression in it ... and what freedom, what ease of workmanship! wallpaper in its embryonic state is more finished than that seascape."

Despite being frowned upon at first, in a short time the term "Impressionists" was accepted by the general public. Both paintings and artists were becoming more and more popular even though the style has a more stylistic and mood driven sources than the title implies.

Sites:

Impressionism. 2012. Impressionism in the Visual Arts What is Impressionism?. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.impressionism.org/. [Accessed 04 April 13].

Nicolas Pioch. 2006. Impressionism. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/glo/impressionism/. [Accessed 04 April 13].