Impressionism (1860-1890, 1886-1905)

Impressionism owns its name to Claude Monet painting: “Impression, Soleil Levant” from 1872. At the time of its apparition (19th century), it was viewed as a radical artistic movement, triggered by the freedom in their style. As the Romantic artists (Eugene Delacroix or J.M.W. Turner) they left their brushes to slide over the painting. This suave movement would prevail over the lines or contours which were seen as of must importance in the preceding era of painting.

The Impressionism style praises on the visual effects, with mixed and unmixed paint, not even blended before applying. This “raw” pure colour (unmixed) managed to give a sense of vibration of the image and increase its intensity.

In 1816 Paris the “Académie des Beaux-Arts” (Academy of Fine Arts) was created as three other academies came together under one. The former academies merged into this new grandiose sum of arts, were Academy of Painting and Sculpture (founded 1648), Academy of Music (founded 1669) and Academy of Architecture (founded in 1671). The academy of fine arts having now more weight to its name analysed clearer, harsher and critiqued newer artistic movements.

At the beginning of the 1860s, Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir studying under the same professor shared ideas of “revolutionizing” the paintings. The accepted technique was for the artist to go to the countryside, to paint in the open air. After making just a sketch in the wide open space, the artist would then return to the inner room to finish and add structure to their painting. Monet and Renoir, with a “rebellious view” did not do that, they preferred to use natural light which enhanced the image, and using newer substances, like newly introduced synthetic pigments to represent that outdoor light.

After a day of work, they would usually meet at Café Guerbois (Avenue de Clichy in Paris, where artists, painters and writers met for an intellectual debate or share of knowledge). Here the discussions between Claude Monet and Renoir were enriched by the presence of Edouard Manet, whom they both looked up to. The group started to grow into fruition with the participation of Camille Pissarro, Paul Cezanne and Edgar Degas.

The academy strikes back. The artistic academic Salon refused most of Monet and his fellow artists works. They managed to find an unexpected ally: Emperor Napoleon III decided to give a voice to a wider audience and founded the “Salon of the Refused” in 1863. A salon seen, at first, with ironic and laughing impressions, but the outcasts soon found themselves drawing more attention to their newer style.

Indulged by this growing confirmation, from the audience, in 1873 Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cezanne, Camille Pissarro, Edgar Degas, and many others (around 30) founded: “Cooperative and Anonymous Association of Painters, Sculptors and Engravers” which had the main purpose of exhibiting their work independently. They also invited Edouard Manet, who declined. Their first exhibition took place in the April of 1874.

Impressionism will be the starting point, the corner stone for further innovation, for future styles of Neo-Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and eventually Cubism.

Post-Impressionism, the artistic child of Impressionism, was the French art movement that took place between 1886 and 1905 as a continuity to Impressionism. A huge name that comes to mind today when we think of this successor movement: Georges Seurat and his approach for the use of pointillism (usage of tiny dots of colour). Neo-Impressionism can be defined as a sub-branch of the post-Impressionism artistic movement.

Post-Impressionism artists are Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, George Seurat, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Signac.