Impressionism came about as an art movement in 19th century Paris. The style focuses on an overall visual effect rather than focused details. It allows the viewer to use their own imaginations when exploring the works. Many popular impressionist artists at this time included Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, and Camille Pisarro. This exhibition will explore the works of 10 of the most popular and influential Impressionist artists of the 19th century and their importance in the art world today.
Poppy Field, Claude Monet, 1873, From the collection of: Musée d’Orsay, Paris
Claude Monet was born in Paris in 1840. Monet often painted the same scenes multiple times in order to capture the light and colours at different times of the day or seasons. After being repeatedly rejected by the Salon de Beaux-Arts Monet, along with several other Impressionist artists in this exhibition formed the Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, and Engravers and held their own exhibitions of their work.
On the Terrace, MORISOT, Berthe, 1874, From the collection of: Tokyo Fuji Art Museum
Berthe Morisot was born in 1841 to an affluent bourgeois family. She was taught painting privately with her sisters by Joseph Guichard. Morisot painted what she experienced on a daily basis. This often involved gender and class discrimination.
In 1874, Morisot married Eugene Manet who happened to be the brother of her good friend and fellow painter, Edouard Manet.
Paris Street; Rainy Day, Gustave Caillebotte (French, 1848–1894), 1877, From the collection of: The Art Institute of Chicago
Gustave Caillebotte was born in 1848 to an upper class Parisian family. He studied painting under Leon Bonnat and entered the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in 1873. Caillebotte's goal was to paint reality as it existed and not make it theatrical. He tended to paint domestic and familial scenes as can be seen here in this Paris street painting.
Visit to a Museum, Edgar Degas, about 1879 - 1890, From the collection of: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Edgar Degas was born in 1834 in France. He started his career with academic training and the study of classic art. He is known for using many different mediums including painting, sculpture, prints, and drawing. Although he never considered himself an Impressionist artist he helped organize all eight of the independent Impressionist exhibitions and showed his own work in all but one.
Irma Brunner, Edouard Manet, Circa 1880, From the collection of: Musée d’Orsay, Paris
Edouard Manet was born in Paris in 1832. He spent his youth training under Thomas Couture and was often found at the Louvre copying the paintings of the Old Masters. The subject of this painting was one of Manet's society friends. He used pastels in these portraits which he felt evoked their beauty and elegance.
Auguste Renoir was born in Limoges in 1841 to a working class family. He began his artistic career painting on fine china in a porcelain factory. He studied in Paris under Charles Gleyre where he met fellow artists Sisley and Monet. He would later join forces with them to create the first Impressionist exhibition in April 1874. Renoir used vibrant light and saturated colour in his works and tended to focus on people in intimate or candid poses as can be seen in this painting of two young sisters. They are seen to be looking away from the painter almost as if they are conversing with someone else beyond the canvas.
Peasants' houses, Eragny, Camille Pissarro, 1887, From the collection of: Art Gallery of New South Wales
Camille Pissarro was born in 1830 and was known by many as the "father of Impressionism". This painting uses pointillism to create light and shadows. The figure in the centre is purposefully lacking detail which leaves room for the viewer's imagination of what is occurring in this scene and who this peasant could be.
Afternoon Tea Party, Mary Cassatt, 1890-1891, From the collection of: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
Mary Cassatt was born in Pennsylvania in 1844 but spent much of her life in France. This is where she would become influenced by her good friends such as Degas and where she would begin her Impressionist works. Cassatt often used women and children in her works. She emphasized the social and private lives of women and the relationships between mother and child.
Still Life with Apples, Paul Cézanne, 1893–1894, From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
Paul Cezanne was born in France in 1839. He met Camille Pisarro in the 1860 and they became close friends. Pisarro became something of a mentor to Cezanne and often influenced his work. Cezanne's works reflect the intense study of his subjects through his repetitive brushstrokes. His early paintings focused on figures within a landscape but his later works tended to focus more on still lifes with decorative designs and thick brushstrokes.
Lady’s Cove, Langland Bay, Wales, SISLEY, Alfred, From the collection of: Tokyo Fuji Art Museum
Alfred Sisley was born in France in 1839. He spent a number of years in England but would return to France during the end of his career. He focused almost exclusively on landscapes and tended to use the same colour palette of pale blues, greens, purples, pinks, and creams as can be seen in this painting.
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This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture.
