The impressionism It was an artistic movement that was born in France in 1860 and was characterized by the artists' attempt to capture light in natural spaces and in everyday situations through thick brushstrokes or stains. Therefore, in this movement bright and vivid colors were used.
It was called impressionism because the painters did not use lines, however, if the painting was observed at a certain distance, it gave the "impression" that there were certain lines and figures that gave meaning to the painting. Likewise, the word was taken from a painting by Claude Monet entitled Impression, rising sun (1872).
In general, impressionist paintings are made from colored brushstrokes that together form elements and figures. However, this cannot be seen up close (because up close they only look like spots); it is necessary to take distance to be able to visualize the shapes, lights and shadows captured in the painting.
The Impressionist movement is essentially pictorial, however, years later other arts took elements and characteristics of this style. For example, some critics claim that the composer Claude Debussy (1862-1918) introduced certain impressionist traits in his musical pieces.
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Impressionism had its origins in the Barbizon School, where artists gathered to paint outdoors and draw inspiration from natural settings. From this school the Impressionists took a taste for landscapes and for the beauty and luminosity of nature.
During this time, photography began to develop, which captures reality as it is. This affected painters notoriously, who did not know how to justify making portraits and landscapes when a camera could do it almost instantaneously..
For this reason, painters looked for a way to portray things in a different way, which did not resemble a photograph. In this way they moved away from lines and volume to focus on the way the eye perceives colors and shapes through light..
Although in its beginnings Impressionism was not widely accepted by the academies (they considered it strange and vulgar), this pictorial movement enjoyed a lot of fame especially in European regions.
At that time, France was considered the cradle of art, so many artists from all over the world came to this country to educate themselves and learn about new trends. This allowed painters and travelers to spread the new techniques of Impressionism around the world..
Impressionism reached its peak from 1873, when painters such as Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro and Pierre Renoir established themselves as artists and main representatives of the new style..
It is worth noting that, although Impressionism followed a series of principles, each of these painters interpreted it according to their artistic needs..
For example, Edgar Degas (1834-1917) focused on capturing the sensation of movement from the portrait of dancers, while Monet preferred natural and aquatic environments; this is how it can be seen in his work Water lilies (made between 1920 and 1926).
Although the Impressionist movement was born in France from the middle of the 19th century, it was influenced by German Romanticism and took on certain notions of the style of the English landscape painters..
For example, from painters such as John Constable (1776-1837) and Joseph Turner (1775-1851) the Impressionists took a liking to blur and intense colors such as red and yellow..
Also important were the contributions of Édouard Manet (1832-1883) -friend and tutor of several impressionist painters- who was one of the first painters to be interested in the effects of light on the perception of figures and colors..
In addition, this painter also began to shed the use of the line and began to use thicker brushstrokes. This is how it can be seen in his painting Lunch on the grass (1863).
Taking these aspects into account, the following characteristics can be established in the painting:
The Impressionists focused the themes of their paintings towards natural elements and everyday situations. These painters used to paint outdoors and liked to portray lakes, roads, meadows, and forests; this can be seen in the works of Claude Monet.
They also developed an interest in the everyday situations of human beings; they used to portray smiling children, ladies playing in the woods, or people eating and celebrating. This can be seen in the paintings of Auguste Renoir (1841-1919).
The Impressionists remarkably experimented with colors; they played with the chiaroscuro technique and used different shades to cause different visual sensations.
In addition, new pigments (that is, new materials with which paint is made) were created in the 19th century, allowing the Impressionists to use purer and more intense colors. In turn, this served as a support for them to experiment with the illumination of the figures..
Some consider that Impressionism used stains to develop its paintings. It was actually a type of brushstroke (later named as brushstroke gestalt) which was characterized by being thick and short.
These brushstrokes were made up of pure colors and -when they were joined with other brushstrokes of different colors- at a distance they not only gave the painting luminosity, but also movement.
That is, the impressionist brushstrokes by themselves did not mean anything, but when put together they formed a totality that was luminous and vibrant before the eyes of the viewer..
This painter of French nationality is considered one of the fathers of impressionism; in fact, the term was taken from one of his most famous works: Impression, rising sun (1872).
Before 1860, his works had been realistic in nature (that is, portraying reality as faithfully as possible). But then he began to develop a completely different style, focused on lighting and thick brushstrokes..
Monet liked to paint outdoors, especially in the gardens of his house located in Giverny (a place that tourists can visit today). In this place he made a series of paintings known as The Water Lilies, inspired by the ponds in his home..
Another of his best known works was the Rouen Cathedral series (made in 1895). This work consisted of several portraits of the cathedral that were made at different times of the day; In this way, Monet managed to capture how the colors of the building changed depending on the solar incidence.
He was a French painter who stood out for his portraits of the female figure, which were inserted in natural landscapes. He was a very special artist who, through his brushstrokes, managed to capture very particular vibrations and luminosities in his works.
This can be seen in paintings such as The big bathers (1884), where the female bodies have striking lighting and pink hues. In addition, the brushstrokes of the water allow the viewer to perceive movement and vitality.
Renoir also made paintings focused on everyday situations in human life. This can be seen in his works Rowers lunch (1881) and the Dancing at the Moulin de la Galette (1876). Renoir was characterized by portraying the most beautiful aspects of human life and nature.
Although the art world had been reserved for male authors, there were also female artists who were dedicated to the Impressionist movement. Such is the case of Berthe Morisot, who developed an extensive artistic career over three decades, beginning to exhibit her paintings at the young age of 23..
Her paintings were focused on portraying her own life, as well as her perception of female activities. This is seen in his work The cradle (1872) and in Woman in her bathroom (1875).
Morisot's style was infused with light and color, standing out for its loose brushstrokes and for avoiding traditional forms..
She was a painter of American nationality, who spent most of her life in France nourishing herself with impressionist ideals. She was friends with Edgar Degas, who introduced her to the artistic world.
The theme of his paintings was focused on daily and social life, especially of women. One of her favorite topics was motherhood and children..
This can be seen in his works Maternity (1890), Children on the beach (1884), Jules dried by his mother (1900) and Madame Meerson and her daughter (1899). The color palette used by Cassatt was very varied: he used from pastel colors to dark tones such as browns and grays..
One of the greatest references of impressionism in France. Upon discovering Diego de Velázquez and beginning to deal with other artists such as Monet, his work began to adopt tints of the Impressionist movement.. Music at the Tuileries, Olympia or The balcony are some of his most outstanding creations.
He was one of the promoters of impressionism, although he himself distanced himself from that current. His style is very particular because he managed to capture spontaneity, both in a specific figure and in a group. He showed Delacroix techniques and some of his most notable creations were Male Nude (1856), The Rape (1869) or The Singer with Gloves (1878).
Spain was one of the European countries that most drew on the Impressionist current. In fact, many Spanish artists traveled to France to learn about new trends and get inspired.
Spanish painters took from Impressionism a taste for landscapes and natural environments; also the loose brushstrokes and the striking colors. However, each added their unique perspective. This is how it can be seen in the style of Joaquín Sorolla and Darío de Regoyos y Valdés.
He was a very successful painter who made up to 2,200 paintings. His style is mainly Impressionist, although he had some traits of the Post-Impressionist and Luminist movements.
Sorolla used to use a pastel color palette, which can be seen in his works Children on the beach (1910), Walk along the beach (1909) and the portrait of Rachel Meller (1918). However, he also used red and brown hues; this is shown in his Self portrait (1909).
He was a Spanish painter in the impressionist style, who also experimented with pointillism and symbolism. The colors of his work were very varied; for example, in your painting Almond blossoms (1905) used a bright palette made up of blues and greens. Instead, in his work Good Friday in Orduña (1903) used dark colors made up of brown hues.
Upper class man who had the opportunity to dedicate himself fully to painting. His most notable stage is the Impressionist, where he reaches his maturity as an artist. The apple trees (1908), Autumn in Madrid (1910) and Thorns in bloom (1911).
Valencian, he was able to obtain scholarships to train in Rome. Upon his return, his theme varied in works of a historical character or Valencian typism. Dark colors stand out in paintings such as The daughters of the Cid (1879) or Station (1896).
Like Spanish artists, Mexican painters were also influenced by French currents. However, artists from this country added local and cultural scenes from Mexico to their paintings. This can be seen in the works of Joaquín Clausell.
He was a Mexican painter who also served as an activist and lawyer. His work was of an impressionist style and was focused on the landscapes of Mexico. When he traveled to France, he was able to meet important artists such as Camille Pisarro and the writer Émile Zola, who motivated him in his pictorial vocation..
His paintings were strictly landscaping; this can be seen in his work Landscape with forest and river (1910), where the artist manages to capture the movement of the water and the leaves thanks to the use of the impressionist brushstroke.
It is important to note that later the impressionist techniques inspired great Mexican artists such as Diego Rivera (1886-1957) and Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)..
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Argentina had notable artists who were influenced by French techniques; this not only happened in the field of painting, but also in literature.
Like Mexicans, Argentine artists took Impressionist principles and adapted them to the needs of their nation and its culture. This can be seen in the works of Martín Malharro and Ramón Silva.
Malharro was an Argentine painter who took certain impressionist techniques to portray the beauty of Argentine landscapes. Among its color palette, green, blue and yellow tones stood out; This can be seen in one of his most popular paintings known as Las Parvas (1911).
These colors are also seen in his work entitled Night (1911), consisting of a landscape made up of several leafy trees and a modest house with blue roofs.
Ramón Silva was a student of Martín Malharro, so his works were influenced by the style of his teacher. In 1911 he managed to take a tour of the European continent, visiting the countries of Holland, Spain, Belgium and Switzerland. He was also able to study in Paris for four years.
Silva stood out for his colorful landscapes; his most popular works include painting Palermo (1918), where the author focused on the use of pinkish, green, yellow and blue tones. The brushstroke of this artist was characterized by being very blurred.
It was the germ of the movement in Argentina. Born in Bordeaux, this gave him the opportunity to soak up European trends, being enraptured by German Impressionism.
He wanted to introduce this movement in Argentina, so he organized an exhibition and formed the Nexus group, made up of Argentine costumbrist painters such as Carnacini or Dresco..
His most important works are Manila shawls, Woman study, The mantilla, lto pig food.
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