Impressionism

Impressionism

Impressionism originated from Paris, France by a group of artists that wanted to show a modern looking style of life. During this time, artists were preoccupied with the expression of feelings and ideas. Impressionist wanted to invent a new technique and style on how to handle colour. Their work also revealed personal and spiritual direction. Characteristics of impressionist art style were that the artist gave importance to shape and distorted the forms. Artists also usually painted on the spot as well. A new technique on how to handle colour was also introduced during this movement called pointillism. This consisted of a lot of coloured dots next to each other that from a distance one would see a picture. The main artists during the Neo-impressionism movement were Seurat and Signac while Post-impressionism were Van Gogh, Gaugin and Cezame. At that time, this art style was greatly different and original and other paintings, thus many critics rejected this style as they found it to be unfinished or “sketch-like”.

Impression Sunrise – Claude Monet

This painting my Claude Monet was the painting that gave birth to the style of Impressionism. The unique style of this painting during that time wasn't praised by critics as well. Today it is praised for the movement that it had accomplished to create. Although Monet used simple brush strokes and simple colours, he still managed to achieve the illusion of a picture and even manage to create a lot of movement in the ripples with the use of small repeated lines. Monet also managed to create the illusion of depth with the use of atmospheric perspective as well. What makes this painting interesting is the intense red sun. Since all of the composition is blue, the small yet intense red colour at the center manages to balance out the whole painting. It also makes the viewer to focus on the sun more. In my personal opinion, the painting gives out a relaxed and calm impression because of the warm blue colour. I also find that the lone boat in the middle further increases the calmness of the scene as well. The rising Sun and the reflections give a focus point to the viewer and in my opinion, breaks repetition as well.

On The Way To Morning - Leonid Afremov 

This contempory pointism painting shows a beautiful nighttime scene. The artist clearly focused on the lighting and reflectivity of the lights themselves. The technique itself helps the artist to create beautiful reflections of the surroundings. The painting is well balanced with warm and cold colours as well.

References

1.) The National Gallery, The Guide to Impressionism, Available from: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/learn-about-art/guide-to-impressionism/guide-to-impressionism. [19 November 2014]
2.) Samu, Margaret, Impressionism: Art and Modernity, Available from: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/imml/hd_imml.htm. [19 November 2014]
3.) Yurasits, Analysis of Claude Monet's Impression Sunrise, Available From: http://blogs.longwood.edu/incite/2012/01/30/analysis-of-claude-monet%E2%80%99s-impression-sunrise/ [19 Novemeber 2014]