Impressionists
Impressionism is the artistic movement which developed in the second half of the 19th century. Although, it has been grown in the field of painting, influenced both literature and music. The term “Impressionism” probably came from the work of Claude Monet Impression, Sunrise. The main characteristic of impressionism in painting is vibrant colors (mainly using basic colors), the compositions outdoors, often in unusual angles and the emphasis on the representation of light. The impressionist painters wanted to capture the immediate impression (impression) that causes an object or a usual picture.
Impressionism developed in France and especially in the period of the Empire of Napoleon III, at a time when the Academy of Fine Arts determined the limits of art. Specifically, the Academy not only dictated the themes (especially in painting historical, religious subjects and portraits) and the techniques that were to follow the painters of the time (conservative colors, silent strokes) with the ultimate goal with the addition of other painters like isolating the subject from the unique personality and temperament of the author. Impressionism is thought to start only three students from the painter Mark Gleyre, Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir and Alfred Sisley, linked together amicably. The small initial group gradually extended with Edouard Manet and Edgar Degas. Paul Cezanne was also influenced by the Impressionists and later he became perhaps the leading representative of the called post-impressionist period.
The group of Impressionist refused the limitations of the Academy but also rejected and romance, which focused too much on emotion. The first public exhibition of Impressionist work was to be an annual report of the Academy of Fine Arts. The Academy organized an exhibition with prizes, which included only projects that were accepted by a special committee, which apparently followed the positive style. In 1863 the committee rejected the panel Le déjeuner sur l'herbe (Hellenic PS. Luncheon on the Grass) by Edouard Manet, on the grounds that it contained a naked female body, which was accepted only in allegories, but not on issues from everyday life.
At the same year, however, established a parallel report containing all the projects that were rejected by the committee, so public and expose the work of Manet. This happened after the intervention of Napoleon himself. The unsuccessful projects could thus be at the discretion of public, without however can be honored with a prize. The following year, in 1864 the group of Impressionists organized its own report, which faced severe criticism and mocking. The painter and critic Louis Leroua called the report "The Exhibition of Impressionists", which probably introduced the term "Impressionism". Despite the criticism, new techniques of the Impressionists had a positive impact on other artists of his time, who followed the movement of Impressionism.
Techniques of Impressionism
Impressionism in painting characterized by the following basic techniques:
Small and often visible brush strokes that create a characteristic thick layer of paint on canvas. In this way they can be captured many details of the issue but in general characteristics.
Using mainly primary colors, with little mixing between them (the process of mixing are carried by the same audience of the project).
Rare use of black color only in the cases is part of the issue. The Impressionists did not use the color black to achieve shades or mix with the primary colors.
Absence of color coats. The Impressionists painted quickly, without necessarily waiting for the paint to dry.
Focus on how the light reflects on objects, capture the subject with a kind of scientific interest.
Painting primarily in open areas, usually with bright and vibrant colors.
We should stress that these techniques also found in earlier painters, the impressionists but used them systematically. It is also worth noting that the Impressionists were favored by the discovery of pre-processed color (similar to those used today), which took advantage to paint outdoors. Previously each artist had to create the same colors by mixing various materials.
List of Impressionist painters
• Frederic Bazille
• Jean Beri
• Gustave Caillebotte
• Edgar Degas
• George Wharton Edwards
• Frederick Carl Frieseke
• Eva Gonzalès
• Armand Guillaumin
• Childe Hassam
• Johan Jongkind
• Laura Muntz Lyall
• Edouard Manet
• Willard Metcalf
• Claude Monet
• Berthe Morisot
• William McGregor Paxton
• Lilla Cabot Perry
• Camille Pissarro
• Pierre Auguste Renoir
• Theodore Robinson
• Zinaida Serebryakova
• Alfred Sisley
• John Henry Twachtman
• Vincent van Gogh
• J. Alden Weir