Emerging in 19th-century France, Impressionist art embraced loose brushwork and plein-air painting to respond to the movement of daily life. Although the pioneers of the Impressionist movement — Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Paul Cézanne, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir — are now household names, their work was a radical break with an art scene led and shaped by academic traditions for around two centuries. These academies had oversight of a curriculum that emphasized formal drawing, painting and sculpting techniques and historical themes.
The French Impressionists were influenced by a group of artists known as the Barbizon School, who painted what they witnessed in nature. The rejection of pieces by these artists and the later Impressionists from the salons culminated in a watershed 1874 exhibition in Paris that was staged outside of the juried systems. After a work of Monet’s was derided by a critic as an unfinished “impression,” the term was taken as a celebration of their shared interest in capturing fleeting moments as subject matter, whether the shifting weather on rural landscapes or the frenzy of an urban crowd. Rather than the exacting realism of the academic tradition, Impressionist paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings represented how an artist saw a world in motion.
Many Impressionist painters were inspired by the perspectives in imported Japanese prints alongside these shifts in European painting — Édouard Manet drew on ukiyo-e woodblock prints and depicted Japanese design in his Portrait of Émile Zola, for example. American artists such as Mary Cassatt and William Merritt Chase, who studied abroad, were impacted by the work of the French artists, and by the late 19th century American Impressionism had its own distinct aesthetics with painters responding to the rapid modernization of cities through quickly created works that were vivid with color and light.
Find a collection of authentic Impressionist art on 1stDibs.
British Countryside Landscape Dramatic Sky Green Fields Watercolor Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: British Countryside Landscape Dramatic Sky Green Fields Watercolor Painting Artist: British School (mid 20th century) Medium: watercolor painting on artists paper, unframed Si...
Watercolor
Ronda Gorge Spain Cliffside Village Landscape Watercolor Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Ronda Gorge Spain Cliffside Village Landscape Watercolor Painting Artist: Unknown artist (mid 20th century) Medium: Watercolor on artists paper, unframed Size: Image size: 7.7...
Watercolor
French Lakeside Landscape Ink and Watercolor Study by Bernard Labbe
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Lakeside Landscape Ink and Watercolor Study by Bernard Labbe Artist: Bernard Labbe (French, mid 20th century) Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper, unframed Size: 8.75 x...
Pen, Felt Pen, Watercolor
French Woodland Trees Hillside Landscape Watercolor Sketch Mid Century
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Woodland Trees Hillside Landscape Watercolor Sketch Mid Century Artist: French School (mid 20th century) Medium: Watercolor on artists paper, unframed Size: 7.75 x 11 i...
Watercolor
French Village Street Scene Ink Wash Architectural Drawing Bernard Labbe
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Village Street Scene Ink Wash Architectural Drawing Bernard Labbe Artist: Bernard Labbe (French mid 20th century) Medium: Ink and wash on artists paper, unframed Size: ...
Ink, Felt Pen
Vintage Watercolor Still Life -- The Antique Store Santa Cruz
By Ross Jones
Located in Soquel, CA
Vintage Watercolor Still Life -- The Antique Store Santa Cruz Watercolor of an antiques store titled "Paradox" by Ross Jones (American, 20th century). Signed "Ross Jones" lower right...
Paper, Watercolor
Sunset on the East Coast. Singapore. Vertical landscape painting, sun, sky
Located in Oslo, NO
"Sunset on the East Coast. Singapore" is an expressive watercolor that captures the iconic, moody atmosphere of the city's beloved coastline at twilight. The painting is a masterful...
Paper, Watercolor
1900's French Impressionist Watercolor Portrait Lady Overlooking Balcony Garden
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Garden View French School, early 20th century signed with initials lower corner watercolour painting on artist paper, framed Glass covering framed: 13 x 10.5 inches board: 10 x 8...
Watercolor
Parisian Street Café Scene with Diners and Trees Original City Watercolour
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Parisian Street Café Scene with Diners and Trees Original City Watercolour By Tony Herbert (1927-2024) Signed: Bottom right Medium: Watercolor on paper, mounted Size: 14 inche...
Watercolor
Heraklion Harbour Crete Ship Milos Greek Port Scene Signed 1967 Watercolour
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Heraklion Harbour Crete Ship Milos Greek Port Scene Signed 1967 Watercolour by John Steane (b.1931) Signed: Bottom right Size: 16.5 inches (height)...
Watercolor
Lilac Branches. Pastel still life painting, flowers, bouquet, impressionism
Located in Oslo, NO
In this pastel artwork, titled "Lilac branches", the artist showcases a mastery of texture and light-play. The composition is grounded by the subtle, reflective surface of a silver-t...
Paper, Pastel
Mid Century French Original Pastel Painting of a Lush Countryside Landscape
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Mid Century French Original Pastel Painting of a Lush Countryside Landscape Artist: Josine Vignon (French 1922-2022) Medium: Oil Pastel on artist paper Size: 19 (height) x ...
Oil Pastel
Bar Coupole Haiti 1982 Figures Outside Cafe Watercolour Street Scene Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Bar Coupole, Haiti, 1982 – figures outside café, watercolour on paper (20th century) Watercolour on paper, unframed. Size: 12 x 14.75 inches (height x width) Unsigned. Condition: goo...
Watercolor, Gouache
Mid Century Parisian Watercolor Scene - Palais Garnier and Cafe de la Paix
Located in Soquel, CA
Mid Century Parisian Watercolor Scene - Opera Garnier and Cafe de la Paix Vintage watercolor painting showing the historic Palais Garnier Opera house and the Cafe de la Paix in Par...
Paper, Watercolor
1940's Fashion Illustration - The Two Elegant Brides
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Very stylish, unique and original 1940's fashion design by French illustrator Geneviève Thomas. The painting, executed in gouache and pencil. The sketch is original, vintage and me...
Gouache
Pine Trees . Pastel landscape painting, blue, green, forest, impressionism
Located in Oslo, NO
In this "Pine Trees" soft pastel work, the artist utilizes a dramatic, high-contrast palette to capture a dense stand of pine trees. The composition is defined by the strong vertical...
Paper, Pastel
Mid Century French Pastel Drawing of Coastal Town with Hills Overlooking the Sea
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Mid Century French Pastel Drawing of Coastal Town with Hills Overlooking the Sea Artist: Josine Vignon (French 1922-2022) Medium: Oil Pastel on artist paper Size: 19.75 (he...
Oil Pastel
"Meeting Place" (2024) by Mo Myra, Original Watercolor Painting
By Mo Myra
Located in Denver, CO
"Meeting Place" (2024) by Mo Myra is a watercolor painting on paper that depicts a landscape with tall trees and a river running through it. Mo Myra, born in 1990, is a Connecticut-...
Paper, Watercolor
Impressionist Floral Oil Painting "Sunkissed Sunflowers in a Terracotta Vase"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This painting named "Sunkissed sunflowers in a terracotta vase " celebrates my love for these beautiful joyful summer flowers. Van Gogh and my admiration for his art, inspired me ...
Paper, Oil
'Flowers on a Window Sill', Royal Provenance, Russia, Queen Elizabeth II
By Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, 'Olga' for Her Imperial Highness, Olga Alexandrovna, Grand Duchess of Russia (Russian, 1882-1960) and painted circa 1925. Provenance: Formerly in the collection o...
Watercolor, Gouache, Laid Paper
Fine Antique French Impressionist Painting Coastal Seascape with Boat at Sunset
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The artist: Henri Aime Duhem (1860-1941) French *see notes below, signed Title: Sunset Medium: signed gouache on paper, loosely laid over card, unfram...
Gouache
Impressionist Floral oil painting on paper "Lost in the Beauty of Pink Dahlias"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This painting named "Lost in the beauty of pink dahlias" celebrates my love for these beautiful elegant delicate flowers growing in terracotta pots. Van Gogh and my admiration for h...
Paper, Oil
Mid 20th century French Original Line Drawing sketch Nude Lady - Stamped
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait sketch original drawing by Jean-Paul LE VERRIER (1922-1996) studio stamped inscribed verso pencil drawing on paper, unframed Double sided 10.5 x 8.25 inches provenance: pri...
Ink
Double-sided British Painting Bridge Figure Flyfishing In The Shallow Waters
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Frank Duffield (British, 1908-1982) signed original watercolour painting on board, unframed size: 11 x 14.75 inches condition: overall very good, minor ...
Watercolor
Set of Six Series of Minimalist Coastal Watercolours Seaside Landscapes
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Minimalist Coastal Watercolors set of 6 watercolour painting on artist paper painting: 10 x 7.25 inches provenance: private collection, England co...
Watercolor
Ecole de Paris, Mid 20th Century, Three Paris Scenes Eiffel Tower & Parks
By Henri Miloch
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Paris: A Collection of Three Paintings of Paris Scenes by Henri Miloch (1898-1979) the Eiffel Tower painting is signed front lower right and also inscribed to the back, the Versailles painting...
Watercolor, Gouache
"Baby's Tears", Hand Augmented 1970s Botanical Screenprint, 96/270
Located in Soquel, CA
Whimsical 1970's hand painted botanical silkscreen of baby's tears plant by Babette Joslyn Bauman Eddleston (American, 1922-1990). This limited edition screen print has splashes of color painted in by hand. The edition number 96/270 is written lower left. It is titled "Baby's Tears" and signed "Babette Eddleston...
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
Mediterranean Garden Pool Terrace Watercolour Colourful Botanical Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Mediterranean Garden Pool Terrace Watercolour Colourful Botanical Painting Artist: French School, 20th century, indistinctly signed Medium: watercolour and gouache on paper / ...
Watercolor
Crimean Landscape . Pastel painting, ground, grey sky, hills, impressionism
Located in Oslo, NO
Traveling to Crimea in 2009 inspired the artist for drawing "Crimean Landscape" in pastel. It is a striking tribute to the timeless, rugged beauty of the Black Sea coast. This artwor...
Paper, Pastel
1940's Fashion Illustration - Lady In White Dress With Draped Orange Head Scarf
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Very stylish, unique and original 1940's fashion design by French illustrator Geneviève Thomas. The painting, executed in gouache and pencil. The sketch is original, vintage and me...
Gouache
Watercolor by Hungarian artist Ede Halápy, titled "Tavassfal" or "Spring Wall"
Located in New York, NY
Ede Halápy (Hungarian, 1891-1962) Tavasfall (Spring wall), c. 1940 Watercolor on paper Sight size: 11 1/4 x 10 1/2 in. Framed: 22 1/4 x 21 1/2 in. Signed lower right: Halápy Hungar...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
Summer Tents and Stormy Sky Over Yellow Fields British Campsite Watercolour
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Summer Tents and Stormy Sky Over Yellow Fields British Campsite Watercolour by John Steane (b.1931) Size: 16 inches (height) x 19.75 inches (width) watercolor painting on pape...
Watercolor
California Vineyard, Large-Scale Farmhouse Landscape Watercolor
By Carolyn Hofstetter
Located in Soquel, CA
Vibrant large-scale landscape watercolor of a California vineyard by S.W.A. artist Carolyn Hofstetter (American, b.1927). This beautiful scene of ...
Paper, Watercolor
Siebe Johannes Ten Cate (1858-1908) Dordrecht under the snow, pastel signed
Located in Paris, FR
Siebe Johannes Ten Cate (1858-1908) Dordrecht under the snow Signed and located lower left Pastel on paper 26 x 39.5 cm In good condition, however, pastel is a fragile material and s...
Pastel
French Hilltop Village Church Mountains Landscape Gouache Painting Bernard Labbe
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Hilltop Village Church Mountains Landscape Gouache Painting Bernard Labbe Artist: Bernard Labbe (French, mid 20th century) Medium: gouache on paper, unframed Size: 16 x...
Gouache
French Mountain Landscape Blue Valley Watercolor Ink Painting Bernard Labbe
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Mountain Landscape Blue Valley Watercolor Ink Painting Bernard Labbe Artist: Bernard Labbe (French mid 20th century) Medium: Watercolor and ink on artists paper laid on...
Watercolor
Purple Sunset. Pastel landscape painting, calm, evening, sun, impressionism
Located in Oslo, NO
"Purple Sunset" is a meditation on the quiet beauty of day's end. The work captures a moment of profound stillness, where the last rays of light set the clouds ablaze with vivid purp...
Paper
Late 19th Century California Landscape Watercolor
Located in Soquel, CA
Beautiful late 19th-century watercolor landscape in the style of Elmer Wachtel (American, 1864-1929), by an unknown 19th-century artist. This small watercolor...
Paper, Watercolor
Vintage Sunset Seascape Watercolor Point Lobos, Carmel
By Les Anderson
Located in Soquel, CA
Scenic watercolor seascape of the Point Lobos, Carmel coast at sunset by California artist Les (Leslie Luverne) Anderson (American, 1928-2009). From...
Watercolor, Laid Paper
Sailing Boats At The Jardin Du Luxembourg Paris With Figures By The Pond
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Sailing Boats At The Jardin Du Luxembourg Paris With Figures By The Pond By Tony Herbert (1927-2024) Signed: Bottom left corner Medium: Watercolor on paper, unframed Size: 9.2...
Watercolor
Serene Cove Ripples, Mediterranean Seascape Diptych in Blue & White, Cyanotype
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
This is an exclusive handprinted limited edition cyanotype. "Serene Cove Ripples" is a gorgeous original cyanotype diptych showing calming sea ripples in a Mediterranean cove. Deta...
Lithograph
Giovanni Boldini drawing of a lady, Italian 19th Century
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Giovanni Boldini (Italian, 1842-1931) Etude de femme au ruban noir Signed with atelier stamp (lower left), further inscribed, signed and dated by Emilia Boldini (the artist’s wife) `no 77 le_ atelier Boldini. Emilia Boldini Carbona 1931’ (on the reverse) Black crayon on paper 11.7/8 x 8.7/8 in. (30 x 22.5 cm.) Emilia’s inscription on the reverse from the year of his death. Giovanni Boldini was an Italian genre and portrait painter who lived and worked in Paris for most of his career. According to Time magazine, he was known as the "Master of Swish" because of his flowing style, exemplified by the confident strokes in this fine example. Boldini was born in Ferrara, the son of a painter of religious subjects, and in 1862 went to Florence for six years to study and pursue painting. He only infrequently attended classes at the Academy of Fine Arts, but in Florence, met other realist painters known as the Macchiaioli, who were Italian precursors to Impressionism. Their influence is seen in Boldini's landscapes which show his spontaneous response to nature, although it is for his portraits that he became best known. Moving to London, Boldini attained success as a portraitist, painting notable members of society including Lady Holland and the Duchess of Westminster...
Paper, Crayon
"The Gift" (2024) by Mo Myra, Original Watercolor Painting, Horse and Foal
By Mo Myra
Located in Denver, CO
"The Gift" (2024) by Mo Myra is a watercolor painting on paper that depicts a a horse and foal standing in a grassy field. Mo Myra, born in 1990, is a Connecticut-based artist celeb...
Paper, Watercolor
British Mid 20th Century Impressionist Painting Busy Figures By Rowing Boats
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Frank Duffield (British, 1908-1982) original gouache painting on artist paper, unframed size: 12 x 15 inches condition: overall very good, minor wear to the edges as is normal for an unframed work, minor staining from age/ light to the surface provenance: from a large private collection of this artists work in the UK. The artist: Born in Warwick in 1901, Duffield came to Bristol at the age of 23 as an artist at the studio of Mardon Son and Hall. He worked as an illustrator producing designs for cigarette cards, remaining with the company for 37 years until his retirement. He was elected an Artist Member of the Bristol Savages...
Gouache
Paris Café Scene Watercolour Bar Restaurant Interior Figurative Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Paris café interior scene, watercolour (20th century) Watercolour on paper, unframed. Size: 14.75 x 12.25 inches (height x width) Unsigned. Condition: good vintage condition with vis...
Watercolor
Fine Antique French Impressionist Painting Landscape Chateau Farmhouse in Fields
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The artist: Henri Aime Duhem (1860-1941) French *see notes below, signed Title: The French Landscape Medium: gouache on paper, loosely laid over card, unframed card: 9.75 x 12...
Gouache
Morning in a Forest . Horizontal landscape painting, snow trees, winter, sun
Located in Oslo, NO
"Morning in a Forest" is a serene and masterfully delicate watercolor that captures the first light of dawn filtering through a quiet, snow-covered woodland. The painting evokes a se...
Paper, Watercolor
Storm Clouds Over Douarnenez, France — British Impressionism
By Hayley Lever
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Hailey Lever 'Storm Clouds Over Douarnenez, Brittany, France', watercolor, 1904. Signed 'HL' in pencil, lower left. Titled and dated in pencil, on the original mat backing. A fine sp...
Watercolor
Shetland Fishing Nets and Lobster Pots with Ruin by the Sea 1985 Watercolour
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Shetland Fishing Nets and Lobster Pots with Ruin by the Sea 1985 Watercolour by John Steane (b.1931) Size: 15.75 inches (height) x 20 inches (width) Inscribed verso: “Shetland...
Watercolor
Victorian Landscape Watercolour of a Venice Street Market scene style of Turner
Located in ludlow, GB
Victorian Landscape Watercolour of a Venice Street Market scene very much in the style of Turner Anyone who is a fan of Hercules Brabazon Brabazon will love this painting! Venice ...
Watercolor
1900s Original French Atelier Life Drawing Posed Man Head in Hands
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Life study drawing original atelier drawing by the French artist, Jeanne Nachat (1898-1984) Nachat attended the prestigious Académie des Beaux-Arts in Pa...
Charcoal, Pencil
Woman in a Red Kimono – 10-11-22, Drawing, Pencil/Colored Pencil on Paper
By Corne Akkers
Located in Yardley, PA
Prankster This colored pencil drawing ‘Woman in a Red Kimono – 10-11-22’ answers the most frequently asked question of late. I thought this prank of the red kimono title given to monochrome drawings would be appreciated. However, there were many that took the bait and mailed me with regard to the total absence of red. To satisfy their whim down I finally made this drawing. Hmm, of course satisfying my own inner urge to return to colored pencils may be the cause as well. I always wanted to make something similar to a previous drawing, called ‘Julia – 11-09-18’. That one exceeded my expectations and the divisionalist result I found very exciting. In this one I skipped the cubist styling though. Hatching up As you can see the drawing was done in hatched strokes,deviating from the execution of the Louise Brooks drawing. Before 2015 I exclusively worked with hatching until I discovered Bristol paper allowing me to study smooth gradients. There was this one thing on my wish list...
Pencil
Spuyten Duyvel, New York Watercolor, Impressionist, Early 20th Century
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
Charles E. Burchfield’s Spuyten Duyvel, New York, signed and dated June 16, 1907, is a delicate and atmospheric watercolor that captures the quiet, pastoral character of the landscap...
Paper, Watercolor
Crimean Evening. Pastel landscape painting, twilight, sea, impressionism
Located in Oslo, NO
In "Crimean Evening" the artist utilizes a vertical orientation to emphasize the vastness of the twilight sky. The composition features a sloping, dark-toned headland in the foregrou...
Paper, Pastel
Valley View with Pines and Distant Peaks, Sierra Nevada (Possibly Yosemite)
Located in Stockholm, SE
This luminous gouache captures a majestic mountain vista, likely set in California’s Sierra Nevada (possibly Yosemite). Two broad granite peaks with sunlit faces dominate the backgro...
Paper, Gouache
Finely Detailed British Watercolor Topographical of Proposed Zulu Community
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Medium: Watercolour on paper, unframed Size: 10 inches (height) x 14 inches (width) Signed: Yes Condition: Sound condition, with some minor signs of foxing visible Provenance: Privat...
Watercolor
California Hills, Mid Century Landscape Watercolor
Located in Soquel, CA
Vibrant watercolor by an unknown artist, in the style of Elmer Wachtel (American, 1864 - 1929). This mid-century landscape watercolor features a golden yellow meadow beside a country...
Watercolor, Laid Paper
Mid Century French Original Pastel Drawing of Stone House with Courtyard
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Mid Century French Original Pastel Drawing of Stone House with Courtyard Artist: Josine Vignon (French 1922-2022) Medium: Oil Pastel on artist paper Size: 18.75 (height) x ...
Oil Pastel
Silver Teapot and Petunias 16x20", watercolor floral still life, framed
By Lu Haskew
Located in Loveland, CO
Silver Teapot and Petunias by Lu Haskew Watercolor 16x20" image size 24x28" framed as pictured, gold leaf, behind glass with archival matte Still life of flowers in pinks and whites ...
Watercolor
Mountain Valley. Pastel landscape painting, green, grey, sky, impressionism
Located in Oslo, NO
In this soft pastel work "Mountain Valley" the artist explores the lush, layered topography of a high-altitude landscape. The composition is defined by a series of receding ridge lin...
Paper, Pastel