Looking at the art of the impressionists January 30, 2019

Impressionism is an art movement in France at the end of the 19th century. The Impressionists were a group known for their innovative painting techniques and approach to colour.

Impressionists and colour

They were excited by developments in colour theory.  They also abandoned the idea that the shadow of an object was made up from its colour with black added. And instead, they believed shadow is made of colour. For example, in an Impressionist painting, the shadow on orange may have some strokes of blue to increase its vitality.

Impressionists and Landscape Painting

They were also the first group of artists to embrace painting ‘en plein air’ (painting outside). This was because of the introduction of paint in tubes for the first time. Therefore artists could carry all their studio equipment in a case. They found it necessary to paint outdoors as they were committed to observing the effects of light on colour in nature. And it is the effect of light on nature that is so common to the Impressionism movement. 

Impressionists and Still Life

“Still life” was not hugely popular with the Impressionists. However, there are a few outstanding examples such as Renoir’s ‘Fruit of the Midi’.  They created a range of bright colours that span the Impressionist spectrum.

Whether in their landscapes, figure paintings or still lifes, the Impressionists celebrated and transformed tart. They found beauty in a harbour at sunrise, dignity in the labour of the common man or joy in the middle classes.

My style of art is very similar to the Impressionism style. View it here.