I observe how light is reflected and diffused in these compositions, and how it affects the colors used in these impressionistic pieces.
Courtyard, Eliseu Meifrèn i Roig, unknown - unknown, From the collection of: Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga
This composition is a good example of how the color in areas in direct light appear less saturated, and areas in shadow appear more contrasting with higher saturation.
Florentine Hat, Wolfgang Lettl, 1990, From the collection of: Lettl Collection
The skin of the woman in this painting is especially striking. Areas in shadow have cool hues and a contrasting warm hues; the blanket also reflects warm colors onto her back between the dark & light.
La Concha, Night-time, Darío de Regoyos y Valdés, ca.1906, From the collection of: Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga
The light in this piece casts a yellow hue onto the ground and figures. The areas in shadow cast a mix of blue, violet, and red tones onto the ground and figures.
Michael Ancher on his way to his studio accompanied by the organist Helene Christensen, Anna Ancher, 1888, From the collection of: Skagens Museum
The red buildings reflect diffused red and pink color lighting onto the snow on the ground. I also enjoy the contrast of the dark figures in shadow in relation to the ground.
Springtime, Claude Monet, 1872, From the collection of: The Walters Art Museum
Reflected, diffused light is bouncing between the dress, the plants, and the ground around the figure, and is changing the colors. The direct light gives a nice texture and balance to the composition.
Sunlight in the blue room, Anna Ancher, 1891, From the collection of: Skagens Museum
The curtains reflect diffused warm light onto the cool wall. However, in areas where the curtain is farther away, only cool, desaturated colors exist in bright highlights of light on the wall.
The Théâtre du Gymnase, Adolph Menzel, 1856, From the collection of: Alte Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
The subtle use of warm lighting in this piece is especially striking in comparison to the dark room. The contrast highlights the stage, and casts warm hues onto the cool colored figures.
La Grenouillère, Auguste Renoir, 1869, From the collection of: Nationalmuseum Sweden
The water in this painting reflects many different colors and from the surface of the lake. The further back the water goes, the more green the hue the lake takes on from the forest in the background.
The Balcony Room, Adolph Menzel, 1845, From the collection of: Alte Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
The room takes on a warm glow because of the lighting flooding the room from the balcony. The wood floor is also warm tones, and the reflecting, diffused light makes the room appear more warm.
Belfry in Strážky, Ladislav Mednyánszky, 1875 - 1880, From the collection of: Slovak National Gallery
The sun is depicted to be very low in the sky because of light placement, and color in this painting. The light cast onto the side of the building has a golden glow and is also affecting the ground.
Poppies, Vonnoh, Robert William, 1888, From the collection of: Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
Because the lighting is so direct, the contrast in light and shadow is there, but is more subtle. The color of the flowers is affecting the color of the grass around it, & creates warm tones.
On the Alster in Hamburg, Max Liebermann, 1910, From the collection of: New Masters Gallery, Dresden State Art Collections
The light in this piece is more subtle, and can be seen creating yellow and red tones on the figures, and boats. The cool blue water also shows hints of yellow on the surface.
The contrast of light and shadow in this piece is especially interesting. The shadows are warm and very saturated. The areas of highlights directly reflect the sky above.
Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge, Mary Stevenson Cassatt, American, 1844 - 1926, 1879, From the collection of: Philadelphia Museum of Art
The light in this painting casts subtle, desaturated highlights onto the figure. The figure is posing in front of a mirror, so colored light is being reflected from the mirror back onto the figure.
Snowy Landscape at Crozant, Armand Guillaumin, circa 1895, From the collection of: MuMa - Musée d'art moderne André Malraux
The sunlights casts warm highlights onto the snow. The bright, warm trees cast diffused red lighting onto the snow. The cool colors in the snow are probably reflected from the sky.
Credits: All media
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.
Skagens Museum
Lettl Collection
Nationalmuseum Sweden
Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Walters Art Museum
New Masters Gallery, Dresden State Art Collections
Slovak National Gallery
Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
Alte Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
MuMa - Musée d'art moderne André Malraux