IMPRESSIONISM & POST- IMPRESSIONISM LESSON 1 Theresa Rabonza IMPRESSIONISM WHAT IS IMPRESSIONISM ? 1. Impressionism developed in France in the nineteenth century and is based on the practice of painting out of doors and spontaneously 'on the spot' rather than in a studio from sketches. 2. Main impressionist subjects were landscapes and scenes of everyday life. 2. Depicting the visual impression of the moment, especially in terms of the shifting effect of light and colour. 3. Artistic style that seeks to capture a feeling or experience rather than to achieve accurate depiction. IMPRESSIONISM CHARACTERISTICS: 1. small, thin yet visible brush strokes 2. open composition- abstracted, The brush strokes are loose and expressive, conveying a sense of movement and transient light. Because the brush strokes are applied alla-prima, without layering, the paintings have a mosaic or stained-glass quality to them. 3. emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities IMPRESSIONISM The work of french painter Eugène Delacroix were sublimely admired by early Impressionist , particularly on his use of expressive brushstrokes, clarity of form, and presentation of optical effect of hues. His art expressions were embedded by his revolutionary methods that greatly influenced the impressionist movement. The Barque of Dante (1822) by Eugène Delacroix IMPRESSIONISM Upon closer inspection, the drops of water running down the bodies of the damned are painted in a manner seldom seen up to and including the early nineteenth century. Four different, unmixed pigments, in discretely applied quantities comprise the image of one drop and its shadow. White is used for highlighting, red for the shadow, and strokes of yellow and green respectively denote the length of the drop. With all these, an impression is formed. Putting this and similar principles into wider practice, future painters would carry French art into one of its richest periods, and that is Impressionism. Water drops on the damned IMPRESSIONISM • Is the painting fictional? • Where do you think the artist based his subject? • What makes Delacroix's painting different from all the artists in the past? • What can you say about the drops of water running down the bodies of the doomed souls? • What distinct colors do you see? (Refer to the colored inserts) • Look closely. What do you observe with the water droplets? Water drops on the damned IMPRESSIONISM It was in 1874 when a group of artists known as the Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, Printmakers, etc. organized an art exhibition in Paris, France and launched a movement called Impressionism. Their founding members include Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, and others. Despite the diversity of these independent artists in terms of their painting approaches and techniques, they were unified and appeared to contemporaries as a group. These artists experienced various criticism from the conservatives because they view the impressionists works as unfinished sketches. In contrary, more progressive writers praised the Impressionists' works for their depiction of modern life. They commended their innovative style as a revolution in painting. Currently, their works are recognized for their embodied repudiation of established styles, their incorporation of new ideas and technology, and primarily because of their modernity. IMPRESSIONISM The term Impressionism was coined from the title of French painter Claude Monet's painting, Impression, Soleil levant (Impression, Sunrise). Impression, sunrise (1872) by Claude Monet IMPRESSIONISM Impressionism personified what this group of artists wanted to represent in their works, and that is the momentary "impression" of an image. The features do not intend to be clear or accurate, but more on a small piece of reality expressed on canvas just as it would be in real life, which could be in motion or sometimes in an uncomfortable position. The Impressionists moved away from the usual practices of art during those times, especially on the use of elements and designs; choice and position of subjects; background; location; composition; and even the styles for capturing the light and delivering movements. Impression, sunrise (1872) by Claude Monet ELEMENTS AND DESIGNS OF IMPRESSIONISM ELEMENTS AND DESIGNS OF IMPRESSIONISM The conventional paintings and their techniques were very much concerned with line, form, and composition. In contrary, the Impressionists painted in freestyle brushed colors that conveyed more of a visual effect than a specified rendering of the subject. They used short broken strokes that were intentionally obvious to the spectators. They also placed pure natural colors side by side as compared to the traditional blending that makes smooth and shaded textures. The Impressionists' outputs created a feeling of energy and intensity, as the colors appeared to shift and move again, just as they do in a real-life setting. They also saw the development of synthetic pigments of paints that provide vibrant shades of blue, green, and yellow that painters never used before. Example of which is the 1874 painting of Edouard Manet, Boating Boating (1874) by Edouard Manet LOCATION PREFERENCE: OUTDOORS The Impressionists preferred to paint outside than in their typical art studios, and this made them different from the conventional painters. In the past, paintings in still life, portraits, and landscapes were usually done indoors. However, they found out that they could best capture the ever-changing effects of light on color if they painted outside in a natural light setting. Doing such, their works showed newness and certain distinction. Can you find some distinct characteristics of Impressionism in the paintings below? Dancers in Blue (1890) by Edgar Degas SUBJECTS OF IMPRESSIONISM Impressionists exhibited "everyday" scenarios as subjects. They moved away from the usually formal portraits and splendid portrayals of literary, historical, religious, and mythical subjects. They preferred capturing common life scenarios, household objects, landscapes and seascapes, structures like buildings, cafes, and common houses. They also showed common people doing their everyday tasks, at work or at leisure, or even when doing nothing at all. Impressionist art is not made to look beautiful or lifelike. The body parts can somehow be vague and the presentation of the subject's face can be expressed using few brush strokes. Observe the painting below. Church and Farm Eragny (1895) by Camille Pissarro Luncheon of the Boating Party (1881) Dy Auguste Renoir COMPOSITION: VISUAL OPENNESS The Impressionists moved away from the formal, structured Style in positioning their subjects. They preferred their subjects to be positioned in unusual angles, sizes can be out of proportion, off-centered, and allowed empty spaces on the canvas. The Floor Scrapers (1875) by Gustave Callebatte DID YOU KNOW? The Floor Scrapers (Les raboteurs de parquet) is one of the first paintings to feature the urban working class. The painting illustrates Caillebottes continued interest in perspective and everyday life. The painting is known for being as realistic as a photograph as it beautifully captures the light through the window and the resulting shadows. The painting was rejected by France's most prestigious art exhibition, the Salon, because the depiction of seminude working class men was deemed a "vulgar subject matter." Nowadays, this painting is considered one of Caillebotte's finest and is used by his admirers to compare him favorably to his contemporaries by citing the realism, rawness, and preciseness with which he has depicted the scene. The Floor Scrapers (1875) by Gustave Callebatte REPRESENTATIONS: Photography During the Impressionist period, photography was in its initial stages. It gained popularity that inspired the Impressionists to capture momentary day-to-day movements or landscapes. If the camera snapshots provided objective true-to-life images or exact representations, the Impressionist painters were able to offer a subjective view of their subjects in which they can express their personal perceptions. They also had the benefit of applying colors, which cameras at that time were still in short of. POST IMPRESSIONISM The Post-Impressionist movement in France both represented an extension of Impressionism and still, a rejection of that style's inherent limitations. The term was coined by the English art critic Roger Fry based on the artworks of nineteenth century painters such as Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, George Seurat, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and others. All of them were French except for Van Gogh. Most of them began as an Impressionist. However, each of them abandoned the style. They preferred to form their own highly personal art and their works formed a basis for several contemporary trends and for early twentieth-century modernism. This resulted in a variety of art styles, techniques, and movements such as Neo-Impressionism, Expressionism, Art Nouveau, and Fauvism. Impressionist artists expanded and experimented with new ways such as using a geometric approach, fragmenting objects, making people's faces and body parts vague, and applying colors that were not necessarily realistic or natural. Two of the foremost PostImpressionists were Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh. Neo-impressionism is a late 19th-century movement in French painting which sought to improve on impressionism through a systematic approach to form and colour, particularly using pointillist technique. The movement's leading figures included Georges Seurat, Paul Signac, and Camille Pissarro. What defines Neo-Impressionism? -Neo-impressionism is the name given to the postimpressionist work of Georges Seurat, Paul Signac -painted using tiny adjacent dabs of primary colour to create the effect of light. -Neo-Impressionist artists did not mix paint on their pallets or use large, open brush strokes as the Impressionist artists did. Expressionism - artistic style in which the artist seeks to depict not objective reality but rather the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse within a person. Art Nouveau - ornamental style of art that flourished between about 1890 and 1910 throughout Europe and the United States. Art Nouveau is characterized by its use of a long, sinuous, organic line and was employed most often in architecture, interior design, jewelry and glass design, posters, and illustration. Fauvism is a style of painting and an art movement that emerged in France at the beginning of the 20th century. It was the style of les Fauves, a group of modern artists whose works emphasized painterly qualities and strong colour over the representational or realistic values retained by Impressionism PAUL CÉZANNE PAUL CÉZANNE Paul Cézanne was a distinguished French artist and considered to be a significant link between Impressionism and Cubism. He was an influential artist to different artists, particularly to Pablo Picasso. Paul Cèzanne (1839-1906) Paul Cèzanne (1839-1906) PAUL CÉZANNE • Regard color, line, and form in creating an artwork. • Each element is attached for describing how the human eye perceives nature. • Practice new kind of analytical discipline. • The artist must be logical and systematic. • The canvas itself takes on the role of a screen where an artist's visual sensations are registered as he/ she gazes intensely and repeatedly at the given subject. Paul Cèzanne (1839-1906) PAUL CÉZANNE • Apply colors to the canvas in a series of distinct and systematic brushstrokes as if the artist is constructing a picture rather than painting it. • Every portion of the canvas should contribute to its overall identity. • Create a harmony similar with nature. • Even a simple painting of an apple can exhibit a markedly sculptural dimension. Paul Cèzanne (1839-1906) It was in those analytical aspects that Cézanne led the future Cubists to regard him as their true mentor. ONE OF PAUL CÉZANNE’S WORK Fruit Bowl Dish (1879) VINCENT VAN GOGH VINCENT VAN GOGH Vincent Van Gogh (1853 – 1890 ) • Vincent van Gogh was a Post-Impressionist painter from The Netherlands. • His artworks are noteworthy for their strong heavy brush strokes, intense emotions, and colors that radiate energy. • Van Goghs prominent style was to have an extensive impact on twentieth-century art. • Van Gogh started his art career by copying prints and reading nineteenth- century drawing books and manuals. • During Van Gogh's early years, he already firmly believed in the idea that to be a great painter you had to first master drawing. VINCENT VAN GOGH Vincent von Gogh (1853-1890) • It was only when he was satisfied with his drawing technique that he began adding color. • He regarded drawing as a fundamental task that enabled him to grow artistically and to study form and movement. • In 1882, Van Gogh began his lithography. • His artwork entitled “The Potato Eaters” was intended for the marketplace; he made a lithograph of the piece to reach a wider audience and to earn some money. ONE OF VINCENT VAN GOGH WORK The Potato Eaters (1885) • A lot of people consider Van Gogh's letters as another form of artwork. In his letters to Paul Gauguin, another Post-Impressionist painter, he included sketches of works that he was doing and exhibiting at that time or had just finished • These sketches are proofs of his growth and progression as an artist. During his early career, he painted with dark and sad colors that suited his subjects, like miners and peasant farmers. • During the middle years of his career, he moved to Paris. • He then changed immensely due to the influences of the works of the different Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist artists. • He began using lighter palette of reds, yellows, oranges, greens, and blues. • He also tried broken brushstrokes just like what other Impressionists were doing. He also attempted to use the technique of pointillism. He was also hugely influenced by Japanese prints or ukiyo-e and woodblock printing for he painted dark outlines around objects. He filled these in with areas of thick color. His choice of colors varied with his moods and occasionally he deliberately restricted his palette. An example of such is his Sunflowers series which is almost entirely of yellows. • During his advanced career in art, he painted over 30 self-portraits between the years 1886 to 1889. • His desires about his ongoing pursuit of complementary color contrasts, and a bolder composition was evidently reflected in his works. • In 1888, he moved from Paris to Arles (place in France) and joined his contemporary, Paul Gauguin. • Gauguin bought a bale of jute and both of them used this to apply heavily thick paint on their artworks and made them use heavier brush strokes. Van Gogh started to imitate the style of Gauguin's painting. His paintings became more attractive, however, less realistic. His emerging style reflected his emotional reactions to subjects through the application of colors and brushwork techniques. He played with colors to capture mood, rather than use them realistically. He once said. "Instead of trying to reproduce exactly what I see before me. I make more arbitrary use of color to express myself more forcefully." Inspired by the light of colors of the Provençal spring, he created 14 paintings of orchards in less than four weeks. He painted outdoors, changing his style and method. • Vincent van Gogh was an incomparable artist who worked with a sense of urgency that often caused him a great deal of stress. • He was noted for his bold, dramatic brush strokes that expressed emotion and added a feeling of movement to his works. • It is thought that he often used paint straight from the tube (impasto), and in the 70 days leading up to his death, he averaged one painting per day. Impasto is a technique used in painting, where paint is laid on an area of the surface very thickly, usually thick enough that the brush or paintingknile strokes are visible and sometimes even directly squeezed from the paint tube. In impasto, the paint can also be mixed right on the canvas. Once the paint becomes dry, it provides textures, as if the paint is coming out of the canvas. Impasto is one of the distinguishing painting style during the period of the Impressionist movement. Pointillism is a technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image. Georges Seurat and Paul Signac developed the technique in 1886, branching from Impressionism. DID YOU KNOW THAT Van Gogh's collection of self-portraits placed him among the most productive self-portraitists of all time. He used portrait painting as a method of introspection, a way of making money and a way of developing his artistic skills. WILLIAM MERRITT CHASE AMERICAN IMPRESSIONIST: WILLIAM MERRITT CHASE William Merritt Chase was an American painter known as an exponent of Impressionism and as a teacher. He was born in indiana in 1849. Chase went to New York in 1869, for 2 years he was a student at the National Academy of Design, but he briefly moved to St. Louis where his family had relocated In 1872, he was sponsored by contributions from a group of St Louis art patrons. Through this sponsorship, his dream of going to Munich and attending the Royal Academy was fulfilled. William Merritt Chase (1849-1916) AMERICAN IMPRESSIONIST: WILLIAM MERRITT CHASE • In Munich, he studied with Karl von Piloty, who helped him to perfect a quick, bold brushstroke and taught him the dramatic Munich "dark manner." • A few years later, Chase was inspired by the lighter tones of the French Impressionism. The Lady in White • In 1878, he returned to New York to teach at the Art Students League. • He held that position until he opened his own art school in the city in 1896. • Suited to teaching by intellect and personality, he began a long and successful career. • He traveled abroad continually, looking at new art and old paintings as well as Japanese prints-eventually incorporating travel into his teaching career by taking his students abroad. AMERICAN IMPRESSIONIST: WILLIAM MERRITT CHASE Chase believed in theatrical self-promotion, in the need for an artist like himself to show that he was different from the rest of society. Look closely at how Chase embedded the Impressionist style in his paintings. At the Seaside (1892) by WM.C Landscape: Shinnecock, Long Island (1896) by WM. Chase DID YOU KNOW THAT William Merritt Chase is also the founder of the Chase School, which later became Parsons School of Design in New York. Parsons is a private art and design college in New York City. It is one of the live colleges of The New School. Parsons was the first school in the United States to offer programs in fashion design. advertising, interior design, and graphic design. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
