The Impressionist Period

In 1873 in France, a group of artist friends decided they didn’t like the traditional club of artists there, called the “Salon,” and started their own club, called the “Cooperative and Anonymous Association of Painters, Sculptors, and Engravers.” Included in this club were the artists Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, and Edgar Degas. Their art is known as Impressionist art.

Degas self-portrait (1863)Renoir self-portrait (1875)Monet self-portrait (1886)

What is Impressionism?• Impressionism is an art movement

that began in the mid to late 1800s in France.

• The name “Impressionism” came from the title of a painting by Claude Monet called Impression, Sunrise.

• With Impressionist art, the emphasis was on the overall effect of the painting instead of the exact details of each object in the painting (in other words, the impression it gives you).

• Impressionists wanted to break from traditional techniques and themes. They wanted to paint about nature, people, and regular things people do.

Impression, soleil levant C. Monet 1872

•What is this a painting of? •What objects do you get an impression of? •Where do you see light?

Impressionism – Monet

• The Impressionists liked to set up their easels and canvases outside to paint (called en plein air). Before, most artists painted indoors in studios.

• The style of painting is usually marked by visible brushstrokes, and there is an emphasis on light.

• Where can you see light and shade in this painting? Can you see what’s on the other side of the tree? What colors are mostly used here?

River Scene at Bennecourt Seine C. Monet, 1868

Photography and Impressionism

• Photography was gaining popularity during this time.

• Photography inspired Impressionist painters to ‘capture a moment’ in their paintings —like a moment of light during a day (sunlight, moonlight, noontime) or a moment in the life of ordinary people (similar to a snapshot or picture on your camera).

• Photographs were only black & white then, so artists really concentrated on colors in their photo-like paintings.

• This is an actual photo of the artist Claude Monet in his garden. What can you see in this picture?

This is Monet’s painting of the same garden.

What is the same as was in the photograph?

Are these the colors you imagined when you saw the black & white photo?

What do you like about this painting?

Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies, 1899

C. Monet

C. Monet Water Lilies 1916

This is the same garden at Monet’s house. This time it is the pond under that bridge.

It is like a close-up photo. What colors are different than the bridge picture?

Do you think Monet liked hisgarden? Do you like his paintings?

Poppy Field near ArgenteuilC. Monet, 1873

Monet liked to paint his wife Camille and his son Jean. What else can you see in this painting?

C. Monet The Walk (Woman with a Parasol) 1875

Here is another painting with Camille and Jean.

Is Jean next to Camille?

What can you say about the way Monet used perspective here?

Where would you be standing inthis painting if you had this sameview?

Do you remember what ‘perspective’ in art means?

Impressionism - Renoir• Renoir's paintings have

vibrant light and lots of color, most often focusing on people in a moment in time, like in a photograph.

• In the Impressionist style, Renoir suggested the details of a scene by freely brushed touches of paint, so that his figures softly blend with one another and their surroundings.

• Find all the people with yellow hats. Where are they looking? What might they be thinking?

• How is this painting like a photograph? How is the next painting like a photograph?

A. Renoir Luncheon of the Boating Party 1880-1881

Monet

A. Renoir Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette (Le Bal au Moulin de la Galette) 1876

Renoir

A. Renoir Two Sisters (On theTerrace) 1881

This is one of Renoir’s most recognized paintings.

Where do your eyes go first when you look at it? Why do you think that is?

What colors does the painter use? What do you think was his favorite color in this painting?

Do you think these girls are looking at or are thinking the same thing? Why is this like a photo?

A. Renoir The Swing 1876

Here is another Renoir painting showing people in a moment in time. What do you think is happening here?

What might happen next?

What is unusual about the light in this painting?

Renoir

Impressionism - Degas

E. Degas The Dance Class 1874

Edgar Degas was a painter and avid photographer. He encouraged other artists to paint real life scenes.

He did not like to be called an Impressionist, even though he had many friends in the group and exhibited his paintings with them.

He especially did not like painting outdoors!

He is known for many paintings of dancers. What can you see in this painting? Where is light and shadow in this painting?

E. Degas The Curtain 1880

What is going on in this painting?

How is this like a photograph?

Degas

Impressionism - Degas

E. Degas The Orchestra at the Opera House c. 1870

How does Degas use perspective in this painting?

Who do you think is the main character in this painting?

Why do the dancers have more light on them than the orchestra does?

Degas also liked to paint pictures of horses and horse racing.

Just like with dancers, he liked to paint the little things that were happening before the major action (ballet or horse race) took place.

Impressionism - Degas

Degas - Sculpture

Degas also did sculpting, mostly with wax.Many of his sculptures were cast in bronze after his death. The dancer has a fabric skirt!

Do you like these sculptures?

E. Degas The False Start 1881

E. Degas Little Dancer of Fourteen Years 1881

ART RESPONSE

Draw your garden or a part of your garden. Paint with crayons using big blurry strokes. Later, do a close up drawing of something in

your picture.

C. Monet Irises in Monet’s Garden 1900