impressionist

Impressionist refers to a painter associated with Impressionism, a 19th-century art movement that emphasized capturing the effects of light and atmosphere rather than precise realism. Originating in 1860s and 1870s Paris, Impressionists sought to depict modern life and the rapidly changing world around them, often focusing on landscapes, urban scenes, and scenes of ordinary people.

Impressionists preferred painting en plein air, including outdoor light and weather conditions, and used loose, visible brushstrokes with bright, unmixed colors to convey transient impressions. They moved away from academic history painting and the polished finish of studio works, aiming instead to convey momentary perception and the shifting quality of light. The approach often relied on color theory and optical mixing, inviting viewers to complete details with their own perception.

Prominent figures commonly associated with the movement include Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, Berthe Morisot, and Mary Cassatt, along with others such as Gustave Caillebotte and Alfred Sisley. The term Impressionism originated from Monet’s painting Impression, Sunrise (1872), which critics used derisively but later became the label for the group. The artists organized independent exhibitions beginning in the early 1870s, as they faced rejection by the traditional Salon.

Impressionism laid the groundwork for later developments in modern art, influencing Post-Impressionism and various movements that followed. Today, Impressionists and their works are widely represented in major museums around the world, recognized for advancing a new way of seeing and depicting contemporary life.