impressionniste

The term impressionniste designates artists and works associated with the Impressionist movement that emerged in France in the 1860s and 1870s. The name derives from Claude Monet’s 1872 painting Impression, soleil levant, and was popularized by critics, notably Louis Leroy, in reference to the group’s first independent exhibitions in the early 1870s. The label was soon adopted by the artists themselves to describe a shared approach rather than a formal academy.

Impressionnistes sought to capture the immediate impression of a scene, especially the effects of light and atmosphere. They preferred painting outdoors (en plein air) to document changing weather and daily life, rather than constructing scenes in a studio. Their brushwork was often brisk and loose, and they emphasized color over line, using pure, unmixed hues to create optical mixing at a distance. Subjects included landscapes, urban and rural scenes, leisure activities, and moments of contemporary life, reflecting modernity rather than historical or mythological themes.

Key characteristics include an emphasis on transient moments, open compositions, and a focus on how light alters perception. Techniques such as broken color, short strokes, and rapid painting were common, along with the adoption of portable materials that facilitated on-site work. The movement drew on earlier Realism and Japanese prints and often eschewed the polished finish of academic painting in favor of a more immediate, sensorial representation of reality.

Notable impressionnistes include Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Edgar Degas, Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, Alfred Sisley, and Édouard Manet as a bridging figure. The movement influenced later developments such as Post-Impressionism and modern art, shaping how artists approached light, color, and contemporary life.