Impressionists

Impressionists were a group of French painters active from the 1860s to the 1880s who sought to portray the impression of a moment, particularly the effects of light and atmosphere, rather than precise, polished realism. They rejected the academic standards of the French Academy and instead painted contemporary life and landscapes, often outdoors (en plein air). The movement emerged in Paris as a loose association of artists who organized independent exhibitions.

Key figures include Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, and Alfred Sisley, with American-born Mary Cassatt later aligning with the group. Their approaches varied, but common traits included rapid brushwork, small strokes of unmixed color, and an emphasis on the play of light on surfaces. They painted urban scenes, riverbanks, cafes, theaters, and country roads, capturing changing conditions of weather and time of day.

The term "Impressionism" originated from a critic who reviewed Monet's painting Impression, Sunrise (1872) and used it to describe the new style; the label was initially derisive but came to define the movement. The artists often exhibited together outside the official Salon, beginning with the first independent exhibition in 1874 in Paris. They drew inspiration from contemporary life, modern technology, and influence from Japanese woodblock prints and color theory, which encouraged a lighter palette and the separation of colors.

Impressionism laid the groundwork for later movements, including Post-Impressionism and modern art, by prioritizing perception, momentary effects, and the depiction of contemporary experience over historical or mythological subjects. Its emphasis on outdoor painting and direct observation also influenced later genres such as landscape painting and urban scene painting.