Impressionism

art history · light and color · Paris · 19th century

Loose, visible brushstrokes. Impressionist painters didn't blend their colors smoothly like artists before them. They applied paint with quick, visible strokes, letting the viewer's eye blend the colors together from a distance. This created a shimmering, alive feeling that felt fresh and modern.

Capturing changing light. Impressionists were obsessed with how light changed throughout the day, creating different colors and moods at different times. They would paint the same scene multiple times to show how sunrise, midday sun, and sunset transformed everything they looked at.

Everyday scenes matter. Instead of painting grand historical events or important people, Impressionists loved painting ordinary things like water lilies, haystacks, train stations, and people enjoying parks. This was shocking to art critics at the time, who thought only important subjects deserved paintings.

Unusual viewpoints. Impressionist painters experimented with odd angles and perspectives, as if you were seeing a scene from an unexpected spot. They were influenced by photography and Japanese art, which showed them new ways to frame what they painted.

Paris art revolution. A group of independent artists in Paris shocked the art world in the 1870s and 1880s by holding their own exhibitions instead of following the strict rules of official art competitions. The name 'Impressionism' started as an insult but became the name of one of history's greatest art movements.