Romanticism vs. Realism vs.
Impressionism vs. Post-Impressionism
Art of the 19th Century
AP European History
Task: Compare and contrast the 19th century artistic movements of Romanticism, Realism,
Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism. Find two artistic pieces from each era. Write a paragraph
summary of each painting (eight paintings total) using the questions below as guiding questions. Use
your notes packet, Kagan, or an internet site to help you find these paintings and analyze differences
between the artistic periods.
Focus: For each painting, write a paragraph revolving around the following questions…
a. What is the title of the painting? What style is used?
b. What characteristics make it a romantic/realist/impressionist painting?
c. What is the artist trying to do?
d. What is your opinion of the work?
Romantic Painters: William Blake, Henry Fuseli, Francisco de Goya, Theodore Géricault, Eugène
Delacroix, William Turner, John Constable
Realist Painters: Thomas Eakins, Marie Rosalie Bonheur, John Singleton Copley, Gustave Courbet,
Honore Daumier
Impressionist Painters: Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Edgar Degas
Post-Impressionist Painters: Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse
NOTE: Some painters will range over as many of three of these movements. Focus on how the
individual painting you select fits the model of the artistic period, not so much on how the artist’s career
fits one model.
Suggested websites:
www.artble.com
http://wwar.com/artists/
http://www.mrmckee.com/APEuroArtMusicMovements.html
Due Date: Friday, February 21st