Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and Realism

Characteristics of Impressionism Born in France in 1860s, purest form only lasted until 1886, “La Belle Epoque” Rejected Renaissance perspective, balanced composition, idealized figures and chiaroscuro Impressionism represented immediate visual sensations through color and light Main goal to represent an “impression,” or initial sensory perceptions recorded by an artist in a brief glimpse Used short, choppy brushstrokes Critics said impressionists “fired paint at the canvas with a pistol”

Claude Monet (1840-1926) Painted landscapes, water lillies, haystacks, etc. Movement takes it name from one of his paintings, Impression: Sunrise Generally outdoor scenes

Impression: Sunrise, 1872

Eduoard Manet (1832-83) Often called the “Father of Modern Art” Never exhibited with other Impressionists Painted contemporary scenes with a hard edge

Bar at the Folies – Bergere, 1882

Pierre Renoir (1841-1919) Painted female nudes, cafes

La Moulin de la Galette, 1876 Musee D’Orsay

Edgar Degas (1834-1917) Known primarily for paintings of ballerinas Close friend with Mary Cassatt

The Rehearsal, 1874

Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) American artist who moved to France and became friends with many Impressionists, including Degas Common theme of work was mother and children

Mother and Child, 1888

Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) Greatest Impressionist sculptor Reproduced in bronze something of the Impressionist love of shifting forms of light and shadow, irregularity of surface The first “modern” sculptor

The Thinker, 1876

Post-Impressionism Not a very descriptive term Applies to a variety of artists and styles that rejected the ideas of Impressionism Mainly a French phenomenon Generally wanted their paintings to be something more substantial than a passing moment

Georges Seurat (1859-1891) Scientific precision of his paintings Pointillism – used small dots of grand color, based on geometry Always wore top hat and dark suit that was meticulously pressed

A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, 1884-6

Henri de Toulouse-Latrec (1864-1901) Very similar to Degas in style Focused on contemporary life – theatres, dance halls and circuses in and around Paris Portrayed movement Due to childhood accident, was 5’ tall with child’s legs but adult torso and disproportionate head

At The Moulin Rouge, 1892

Moulin Rouge - La Goulue 1891

Paul Cezanne (1839-1906) Born in Aix-en-Provence Dismissed as a madman due to unorthodox personal mannerisms and artistic style Known for still lives

Apples, Peaches, Pears and Grapes, 1879-80

Large Bathers, 1906

The Card Players, 1894-5, Musee D’Orsay

Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) Spent a decade as a prosperous Parisian stockbroker who took up painting as a hobby in 1873 By 1883 had ditched his family for art and focused on the “savage instinct” Spent last ten years of his life living in Tahiti with his 13 year old Tahitian mistress

La Orana Maria, 1892

Vincent van Gogh (1853-90) Tragedy of his life found expression in his work – very autobiographical Called his subject matter “The terrible passions of humanity”

Starry Night, 1889

Portrait of Dr. Gachet, 1890

Sunflowers, 1888, National Gallery, London

Realism Goal to record activities of common people in a realistic fashion Gustave Courbet (1819-1877) Often life size work so the viewer felt like there were a part of the scene Manet’s earlier work is also considered realist

Courbet, The Stone Breakers 1849

Courbet, Burial at Ornans, 1850, Musee D’Orsay

Manet, Luncheon on the Grass, 1862-3, Musee D’Orsay