"Impression, Sunrise" by Monet
"Impression, Sunrise" by Monet
Impressionists is the name given to a group of artists who lived and painted in Paris between 1860 and 1890. They include Renoir, Degas, Manet, Pissaro, and Monet – who is perhaps the most famous Impressionist of all. At the time, artists were generally considered great if they were able to achieve an illusion of reality – in other words, if their paintings were a mirror image of their subject. Monet and his friends shocked the art world with their innovative technique. They used sketchy brush strokes, and bold, shimmering colours, to capture an impression of the scene before them – hence the name Impressionism. Also, instead of depicting lofty historic, mythological or religious subjects, the Impressionists painted scenes from everyday life in Paris – the cafés and bars, the city streets and parks, the ballet, and what was even more shocking to the contemporary art critic, scenes of Parisian nightlife, such as the dance halls. It seems strange that the work of the Impressionists was so controversial at the time, given the great popularity of their paintings today.
Image courtesy of mark harden
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