1. (aka. Impressionist Art Movement)
Impressionism
(aka. Impressionist Art Movement)
The beginnings…In the middle of the 19th century—a time of change… Historical subjects, religious themes, and portraits were valued (landscape and still life were not), and the Académie (art jury) preferred carefully finished images that looked realistic when examined closely. Color continued to be somber and conservative, and traces of brush strokes were suppressed, concealing the artist's personality, emotions, and working techniques.
Then….a group of young rebellious painters interested in painting landscapes and still life. Experimented with a lighter and brighter manner – both in color and technique. These ‘kids’ are known as the….

2. The Impressionists
Manet
Monet
Renoir
Degas
Cassat

3. Impressionism Check out this video Everyday - subjects and events
Lighting - Captures effects of natural light . Color in artwork is illuminated…or seems to glow
Brushstrokes - Artists have broken the solid shape into smaller pieces and blurred the edges, creating dabs of color that blend together.
Outdoor – en plein air was a common setting
Weather – weather and atmosphere were ‘captured’
(remember ELBOW)

4. Claude Monet
b – d. 1926
He wasn’t the first to paint this way, but the first to be “accepted” and called an Impressionist
Main subjects were nature and landscapes- en plein air
Painted same scenes day after day to capture changing of light
weather, atmosphere and the changing of seasons

5. Check out this video
Woman in a Garden, 1867, Hermitage, St. Petersburg; This was a study by Monet to show the effect of sunlight and shadow on color

6. Impression, Sunrise (Impression, soleil levant), 1872; the painting that gave its name to the style, IMPRESSIONISM

7. Studies - Rouen Cathedrals, 1890’s

9. 1919, Le Bassin aux Nymphéas
Worth $82.2 Million

10. Claude Monet, Le Palais Contarini (1908)
$165-Million in 2013

11. Pierre-Auguste Renoir
b. 1841– d. 1919
In characteristic Impressionist style, Renoir suggested the details of a scene through freely brushed touches of color, so that his figures softly fuse with one another and their surroundings.
vibrant light
saturated color
most often focused on people in intimate and candid compositions.
Females were his primary subjects.
Later in life he went back to more traditional style of painting
*Suffered from arthritis badly - he continued to paint with brushes tied to his wrists.

12. 1876, Le Moulin de la Galette, oil on canvas
Sold $71.1 MILLION in 1990

14. Edouard Manet
b d. 1883
He was one of the first 19th-century artists to paint modern life, and a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism …he was a classical artist, but then ‘adopted’ the notions of impressionism. ..he became friends with other Impressionist artists and they influenced each other.
Most well known for his social scenes.
His self-portrait sold for over $22 million dollars in 2010
The Cafe Concert, 1878

15. (early) Manet, Le Chemin de Fer (The Railroad) 1872-73

16. Manet, Le Bar aux Folies-Bergère 1881-82

17. Edgar Degas - Self-Portrait in a Green Jacket, 1856. Oil on canvas
b – d. 1917
Early work
cropped subjects awkwardly
Showed emotional tension
chose unusual viewpoints.
Linked to his fascination with photography.
He captured ‘snapshots’
Painted ballerinas because they sold well!
Edgar Degas - Self-Portrait in a Green Jacket, Oil on canvas

18. Sold for $27.9 million in 1999

19. Edgar Degas, Dance Class at the Opéra 1872

20. Dance Class at the Opéra

21. Degas Ballerinas to Music
Singer with a Glove, 1878

22. Mary Cassatt
b.1844 – d.1926
American Painter, born in Allegheny City, PA
Went to Art School in Philadelphia where only 20% of the students were female, none of which were as determined as Mary Cassat, to make painting a career.
Moved to Paris and met Degas…who influenced her painting.
1894, Summertime
, The Cup of Tea

23. Impressionism - the Big Break in the History of Art
Discussion Question:
Did you notice I included an ‘adjusted’ price of some paintings in the presentation? The approx net worth means if they were up at auction in the near future, that approximately what they would sell for.
How does one put WORTH on a work of art?