Childe Hassam
...in which artists paint the ordinary scenes that lie in front of them. Impressionism is a movement in painting that originated in France in the late 19th century. It was started by Claude Monet. “The French Impressionist threw off the shackles of traditional painting in favor of an airier, lighter style” (Dearinger). The purpose of Impressionism was to convey the impression of an object by capturing the patterns of light and color on and surrounding it. There were no sharp outlines or definite edges; everything was very fleeting, almost not real. In painting terms, this style was characterized by “short brush strokes of bright colors…to represent the effect of light on an object” ( Broun). Impressionist painters were considered radical in their time because they broke many of the rules of picture making set by the earlier generations. They found many of their subjects in life around them rather than in history, which was then the accepted source of subject matter. The original Impressionists were interested in everyday sights found on nearby streets, countryside, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Instead of painting an ideal of beauty that earlier artists had defined, the impressionists tried to depict what they saw at a given moment, capturing a fresh, original version that was hard for some people to accept as beautiful. To do this, they focused attention on the effects created by light as it was reflecting on the subject in which they were painting instead of the “solidness” of the shapes themselves. Some examples are buildings, trees, and individuals; they usually had non distinct outlines. They often painted outdoors, rather than in a studio. This way they were able to observe nature more directly and its precise moments in time. The sun more specifically was important to them. The style of Impressionist painting has several characteristic features to look for. To achieve the appearance of spontaneity, they used broken brushstrokes of bright, unmixed colors. This practice produced loose or densely textured surfaces rather than the carefully blended colors and smooth surfaces of their peers at the time. The colors in impressionist paintings have an overall luminous effect. Impressionist most often completed a painting on a single occasion, where as other artists first made sketches, and then went to work on completing their painting. Many impressionist painters had to paint in a quick manner; therefore, oil paint was usually put on the canvas in small dabs or short strokes, often with little color mixing. Some names of the original French Impressionists are Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Pierre Renoir, Alfred Sisley, and Edgar Degas. Pissarro is considered to be the leader of this group of artists. However, each artist painted originally in their own unique way. Claude Monet is the most thought of artist when the words French Impressionist come to mind. His painting called “Impression: Sunrise” gave rise to Impressionism. A title was needed in a hurry and Monet and his brother came up with this paintings name. Monet painted this picture of the sun seen through mist at the harbour of Le Havre while staying there in 1872. It was first exhibited to the public in 1874. Pierre Renoir worked closely with Monet in the late 1860’s. Renoir chose to paint popular river resorts and views of Bustling Paris. Renoir enjoyed and chose to paint his friends and lovers. “Renoir seems to have had the enviable ability to see anything as potentially of interest. More than any of the Impressionists, he found beauty and charm in the modern sights of Paris. He does not go deep into the substance of what he sees but seizes upon its appearance, grasping its generalities, which then enables the spectator to respond with immediate pleasure” (White). One painting that shows his extraordinary abilities in painting is “The Boating Party Launch”. It shows a group of Renoir’s friends enjoying an afternoon out. It is a good example of expressing the relationships between man and a woman. Alfred Sisley, another important French Impressionist, met Monet and Renoir in 1862 and they had a lasting impression on him! In the 1870’s, he produced a remarkable series of landscapes of Argenteuil, where he was living, one of which, “The Bridge of Argenteull” was purchased by Manet. Another painting which is very well known and associated with Sisley is “Misty Morning”. Originally, Impressionists tended to favor the clear light rather than mistiness; however, with this Sisley there is an exception. The informal brushstrokes used show a clear, precise sweep. This coveys a feeling “warmth” that is felt through out the entire painting. This painting is most often compared to Monet’s “Impression: Sunrise”. Edgar Degas, another French artist involved in the Impressionist movement, can be considered to be the master of drawing the human figure in motion. Degas worked in many mediums, preferring pastel to all the others. He is best known for his paintings, drawings, and bronzes of ballerinas and race horses. In the early 1870’s the female ballet dancer became his favorite theme to portray in his paintings. The best known American Impressionist is Mary Ca...