Impressionismus

Impressionismus, or Impressionism in English, is a 19th-century art movement that emerged in France, most notably in Paris, during the 1860s and 1870s. It arose from a group of painters who sought to break with the historicizing and polished standards of academic painting and to portray contemporary life and the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. The term is said to come from Claude Monet’s painting Impression, soleil levant (Impression, Sunrise), shown in 1874 at an independent exhibition that challenged the official Salon system.

The movement is characterized by a focus on perceived optical effects rather than precise detail. Artists often painted en plein air to capture natural light, changing weather, and the rhythms of daily life. Brushwork tends to be loose and visible, colors are applied in pure or near-pure hues, and shadows are rendered with color rather than conventional browns and blacks. Subjects include landscapes, rivers and harbors, urban scenes, middle-class leisure, and intimate domestic moments.

Key figures associated with Impressionism include Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Berthe Morisot, Edgar Degas, Alfred Sisley, and Mary Cassatt. They organized independent exhibitions starting in 1874, circumventing the Salon to present a new vision of modern painting. The movement faced criticism for what some saw as unfinished technique, yet it profoundly influenced the direction of modern art.

Impact and legacy extend beyond France, influencing later movements such as Post-Impressionism and neo-impressionist experimentation with color theory. By emphasizing perception, light, and momentary experience, Impressionismus laid groundwork for broader developments in 20th-century art.