color in impressionism: how color was used by the impressionist                            by: rebeccA FLOWERS

This painting depicts a woman sitting outside alone and reading a book under shade. Like many other artists did before him, the impressionist painter Claude Monet uses color to create a focal point. While all of the woman's surroundings are differing shades of green, she stands out in brilliant white and draws the viewer's attention to her.

Another work of art by Claude Monet. The painting depicts haystacks bathed in the afternoon sun. The impressionist were know for using color to express light, and here Monet deftly uses soft, warm colors to express the drowsy light and growing shadows of midday.

A painting by Ladislav Mednyanszky that depicts a fisherman's boat at harbor. Contrasting or complementary colors were often used in impressionist works, and in this painting the primary colors that the artists uses are complementary shades blue and orange.

This painting shows four ballerinas adjusting their cloths, perhaps in preparation for an upcoming performance. Yet again, we see an impressionist artist making use of complementary colors. Degas uses green to form the background of his work and a contrasting red for the focal point, but also uses these contrasting colors to create shadow. A common practice amongst the impressionist.

This pairing depicts a misty river view of the Houses of Parliament. Another way that the impressionist Monet used color was by blurring the colors into each other. In this painting, Monet gives the impression of mist and the hazes created by it through the softening and combing of certain colors.

The Young Ladies of Giverny depicts haystacks in a field. In this picture, Monet uses light shades of color to give the impression of brightness and warmth. In contrast, the colors of the far background and foreground are cool .

This painting depicts an ornate, large building in a city. The colors used in this work are primary. There are bright swaths of blue, red, and patches of yellow. While the painting is mostly white, the colors grow bright near the focal point of the work and are used to create form and depth.

A portrait of a man with a pipe. While impressionist are generally known for their use of bright color and light, they have use shadow. In this painting, the artist uses deep shadows to contrast the background with the foreground. The colors are softly blended into each other, however, so the contrast is subtle.

Poplars depicts graceful trees and their reflection in the water below them. The use of color is soft and light. The colors gently contrast each other. Monet was an impressionist known of this use of color to create light and shadow and this painting exemplifies that.