Impressionism is a 19th-century art movement that originated in France. It is characterized by the following:
- Small brushstrokes: Impressionist paintings are characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brushstrokes.
- Open composition: Impressionist paintings often have an open composition, meaning that the subject matter is not confined to the edges of the canvas.
- Accurate depiction of light: Impressionist artists emphasized the accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities, often accentuating the effects of the passage of time.
- Ordinary subject matter: Impressionist paintings often depict ordinary subject matter, such as landscapes, people, and still life.
- Unusual visual angles: Impressionist artists often used unusual visual angles to depict their subjects.
- Inclusion of movement: Impressionist artists included movement as a crucial element of human perception and experience.
Impressionism challenged and revolutionized the established art until that time. Before Impressionism, landscapes in art were often imaginary, perfect landscapes painted in the studio. The Impressionists changed all that by painting outdoors and looking at how light and color changed the scenes. They often painted thickly and used quick, messy brushstrokes to capture the momentary and transient effects of sunlight. The first group exhibition of Impressionist art was held in Paris in 1874 and included work by Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, and Paul Cezanne. Although the Impressionists were critically received at the beginning, their revolutionary techniques provided a source of inspiration for many painters until nowadays.
