Impressionism: An Impressive Art Movement

Impressionism was one of the most important art movements in history. Not only did it produce some of the most impressive and iconic pieces of art, it also broke long-held traditions, representing the revolutionary times of the era. The 19th Century French art movement has not only elevated the arts during its time, but has forever changed the world of art; inspiring millions.

To begin, impressionism is focused on painting the changing effects of light using visible brush strokes. It focused less on being hyper-realistic and instead, more focused on conveying an emotion. This was quite revolutionary for the time. In France, the art world was dominated by the government-run Académie des Beaux-Arts. This institution would host art events with the most important art event being the Salon de Paris, the most important art event in the world at the time. The Salon Jury was ruthless, rejecting thousands of paintings and with these rejections, many art careers ended. In fact, Napoleon would even order a special exhibition for all the rejected pieces.  Overall, this demonstrated that the Academy had very strict rules, rules that prioritized  historical and mythological scenes. However, people began to slowly rebel against these standards.

A Realist Movement would begin, with artists like Gustave Courbet and Edouard Manet painting un-idealized modern life. In the early 1870s, artists Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Camille Pissarro had grown wary of the Salon. They decided to form their own collective; the Société Anonyme Coopérative des Artistes Peintres, Sculpteurs, Graveurs (Anonymous Cooperative Society of Painters, Sculptors, and Printmakers). They funded their own shows, hosting eight exhibitions. 

However, in between these eight exhibitions, there was a great amount of hardship and tension. Due to financial constraints, Monet would sometimes submit to the Salon and skip the show.

Luckily, the movement would later be saved by an American art dealer named Paul Durrand-Ruel. After bringing back Impressionist paintings to the US, many wealthy American buyers fell in love with them, buying the pieces and financing the movement’s continuation. 

In the late 1880s, with the success of Impressionism at all time highs, the artists would soon part ways, ending the Impressionist movement. However, while the movement ended, the artists, the art, and the impact the movement had would live on. Famous artists like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, and Edgar Degas would emerge, and their work would directly inspire individuals like Vincent Van Gogh. Many famous paintings emerged as well, like “Impression, Sunset” (1872) and “Paris Street; Rainy Day” (1877). The movement in itself revolutionized what art could be, swaying away from hyper-realism to works that played with light and conveyed emotion.

Overall, Impressionism was one of the most important art movements in art history; forever changing what art was and what it could be.