The
Impressionistic Movement began around 1870 in France and always stayed
a typical French movement. The name 'Impressionism' was introduced by
an art critic in 1974 when Monet exhibited his work 'Impression
soleil levant'. Althoughthe critic did not meant the term Impressionism
as a compliment, the artists dicided to name themselves Impressionists.
In
the 19th century, the taste of the public was determined by the Art Academies
and the 'Salons' where art was exhibited. The ruling movement was mostly
classicism and people were very conservative at the time. More
and more young artists tried to break with this tradition. Finally a technical
invention became the break through and led to a radical change.
For
centuries artists had tried to reflect the world around them. They tried
to approach the reality the best as
possible. But, in the beginning of the 19th century the camera was invented.
By pressing one button, the reality could be recorded exactly as it was.
It was no longer the job of the artist to reflect the reality the best
as possible, because there was invented a better way. The artists became
more free in what they painted and how they painted it. Therefore one could
see the Impressionists and all the movements after as interpreters of
the visible reality.
The
Impressionism mostly referred to painting. The artists, like Monet,
Manet, Renoir, Degas, Cezanne, had great interest in nature. In stead
of working in their studios, many artists started working outside. They
tried to paint impressions of nature and people; impressions of the reality
outside.
There
are two keywords that refer to the Impressionism: Light and Color. With
the use of light and color the painters were able to reflect (quick) impressions
of the reality and even more. By using light and color the artist even
tried to reflect the temporariness of an impression.
The method of painting these temporary impressions was creating a little vague and lively scene by painting with loose brush strokes in soft colors. These loose brush strokes intensify the impression of the passing moment. The change of natures atmosphere was therefor chosen as scene many times.
In
sculpture the artists also used nature to help them to create a new sort
of liveliness. They also tried to reflect the impression of the reality
and the temporariness of these impressions. The most genius artist of
the impressionistic sculpture is Auguste Rodin. 
His
work has an irregular surface on which sunlight causes glittering. These
sparkles of sunlight give the sculpture a new kind of liveliness.
This optic effect was not only what Rodin was after. With these method of sculpture he tried to reflect the growing-process of a sculpture. Like painters build their work out of color and light spots, he build his sculptures out of clay and bronze. By making the growing-process visible for the people, he also brought the aspect of temporariness into his work.
Go to Post-Impressionism 1880-1895