Impressionist More Art
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.
Artist Comments
Artist Lisa Elley presents an impressionist garden with extraordinarily rich flora. She paints the piece with a palette knife, greatly inspired by Monet's work....
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Wildflowers bloom and display their fullest beauty in springtime, with their colorful petals capturing the light. The poppies in the foreground dominate the sce...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Carey Parks presents an impressionist still life of dainty flowers on a glass cylinder. Taking a small bunch from a large bouq...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Early 1900s Impressionist More Art
Panel, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Board
Artist Comments
Golden autumn leaves sway on tall birch trees, and a path covered in foliage leads to a denser part of the woods. The scene evokes a beautiful day in the mounta...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Bright green trees sway gently under a clear blue sky, their leaves suggested by quick, expressive brushstrokes. A lavender field in the distance adds a soft po...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Golden foliage blankets the forest floor while a stream gently flows through rocky terrain. The artwork is part of artist Onelio Marrero's series that explores ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Golden aspen trees frame a winding trail that leads to a tranquil blue lake, with towering mountains rising in the distance. The bold, expressive strokes of the...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Archival Paper, Linocut
Artist Comments
A blacksmith shapes glowing iron on an anvil, hammering a decorative curl into the heated metal. The forge's flames burn brightly in the background, casting war...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Board
Artist Comments
The scene features vast open fields, mountains, and a horizon. Distant rolling sky and sweeping clouds capture the beauty of changing weather patterns. Shrubs i...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A festive evening unfolds at Piazza Navona in Rome during the Christmas holiday. The illuminated carousel glows warmly, contrasting with the timeless statues of...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Wool, Cotton, Linen, Plywood
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Wool, Cotton, Linen, Plywood
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Wool, Cotton, Linen, Plywood
Artist Comments
An evening in Rome unfolds with warm lights illuminating a narrow passage near Piazza Navona. The lively atmosphere of bustling cafes and shops contrasts with t...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Linen, Oil
Artist Comments
Nasturtiums captivate with their vivid orange and yellow blossoms, while circular green leaves provide contrast that makes the petals appear even more vibrant. ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero often spends time with his family at the New Jersey shore. In this painting, groups of children strategize and work diligently digging for...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A trail near Sedona’s airport reveals striking red rock formations and distant mesas. Gnarled trees scatter along the path, evoking a desert landscape that fe...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Narrow train tracks run from Santa Fe to Lamy, New Mexico, accompanied by a hiking path that runs alongside. Early spring light adds warmth to the scene, while ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Beech trees stand tall, their autumn leaves shifting to shades of yellow and rust. Below them, a wild rhododendron bush adds a splash of pink to the scene. Expr...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A busy city street comes to life at dusk. The limited color palette and the angle capture the fading light, casting a soft glow over buildings and cars. The pie...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A woman in a flowing white gown stands confidently against a background that blends almost seamlessly with her attire. She symbolizes purity and strength. The s...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Yellow taxis gather at LaGuardia Airport's Marine Air Terminal, forming a vibrant welcome to New York City and showcasing a striking example of found art. Their arrangement creates a captivating visual pattern that captures the energy and artistic potential of everyday scenes. Artist Keith Thomson used oil paint and ink to bring this piece to life.
About the Artist
Alabama-based artist Keith Thomson creates quick-witted, mixed-media artwork that blends realism and surrealism. His background as a political cartoonist...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A woman contemplates in front of Rene Magritte's Lovers at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The warm, muted tones of the wall and the soft light give ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Early 1900s Impressionist More Art
Oil, Wood Panel
Artist Comments
Autumn foliage surrounds a peaceful mountain landscape. Tall birch trees line the scene, their white trunks contrasti...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Pedestrians stroll through the streets of downtown Chicago, passing the iconic lion statues at the Art Institute of Chicago. Autumn hues fill the scene as tall ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Benjamin Thomas depicts a luminous sky with tonal hues of grey with soft purple accents. Finally, he paints his favorite color in a sky painting. "My dog...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A person walks down a rainy Manhattan street under a blue umbrella. Glowing storefronts line the sidewalk, adding warmth to the cool, wet surroundings. Inspired...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Maurice Dionne illustrates crowds of people walking along the street in an impressionistic representation. "Nimbus describes the luminous cloud or atmosp...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
19th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil
19th Century Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Tall, slender trees rise along both sides of a gently flowing stream, with foliage bursting in vibrant shades of green, capturing the essence of spring. Artist ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Canvas
Artist Comments
This painting draws inspiration from the architecture of quintessential Italian villages. The sunlight accentuates the stone walls and shutters, while a pot of ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Canvas
Artist Comments
Old Swedish-style log and board farmhouses still stand in Berks County, Pennsylvania. In this painting, blazing fall colors frame a deep red house, contrasting ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A weathered boat rests along the shoreline, while the shack in the background mirrors its rust tones and distressed markings. The warm autumn foliage completes ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Canvas
Artist Comments
A lighthouse stands on a grassy point, overlooking the tranquil waters of Admiralty Inlet. Its sturdy white walls and vibrant red roofs contrast with the blues ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Board
Late 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil, Wood Panel, Canvas
