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.
The Canyons Come Alive, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Towering canyons surround a valley suddenly alive with bright tones of blue, green, and gold. Overhead, summer thunderheads gather, offering a cool contrast to ...
Acrylic
$1,800
'Landscape with Figures'; Early 20th Century Oil Painting by Arthur Schneider
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This 15.75" x 19.5" x 1.5" oil paint on panel work by Wisconsin-native artist Arthur E. Schneider depicts what appears to be a family frolicking around a field that overlooks a large...
Oil, Panel
Majestic Cafe of Porto, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Elegant patrons of Majestic Cafe in Porto, Portugal, await their lunch. A server brings a round of sparkling wine. They sit quietly, enjoying the moment as chan...
Oil
$4,386
India Oil on Board Modern 1967 Signed H Lall Impressionist Bombay Progressives
Located in Norfolk, GB
Harkrishan Lall (1921 - 2000) Untitled Oil on board, 1967 Board size: 51 x 40.5 cm Frame Size: 62.5 x 53.2 cm Signed bottom right and dated 67 In original frame Provenance: Priva...
Oil, Board
Autumn Goodies
Located in Zofingen, AG
Autumn Goodies This still life was painted from life. Soft, diffused daylight fills the space, gently interacting with transparent glass, matte surfaces, and textured fabric. The r...
Canvas, Oil
Finds and Replicas, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero captures a moment inside an antiques shop, where a man browses lamps, pictures, and replicas of Frederic Remington bronzes. The interior i...
Oil
Bistro on South Street, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A woman sits outside a Philadelphia bistro, reading her book. The bright morning light shines through the establishment's windows, revealing a glimpse of its i...
Oil
Arm in Arm, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The artwork depicts a warm summer day in Montmartre, Paris. An older couple walks arm in arm across the street while people dining al fresco bask in the afterno...
Oil
The Brighter Corner, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
On a beautiful sunny morning, sunlight strikes the corner of a quiet stone house. A palm tree rises on the side, its fronds casting delicate shadows across the ...
Oil
L'Orangerie Floral, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This still life painting presents a bouquet of roses in a simple, low vase. Soft yellow centers bring warmth to each bloom, while a cluster of grapes and a smal...
Oil
Sea of Clouds, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Towering cumulus clouds drift overhead and provide shade to the beach below. The contrast between the monumental sky and the quiet human presence on the shore speaks to humans' small but significant place in the natural world. Painted with oil on canvas, this impressionist seascape evokes tranquility.
About the Artist
Artist Aruna Rao paints impressionistic seascapes that capture the shimmer of light, the movement of water, and the quiet poetry of coastal life. "I am endlessly inspired by how light transforms a scene, softening the atmosphere and turning an ordinary moment into something unforgettable," says Aruna. Growing up in a literary family in India, she was surrounded by stories and art, which sparked her love of narrative and visual expression. After a 20-year career in IT, she returned to painting, earning an MFA with top honors from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Living in Florida offers endless inspiration, from sunrise beaches and glowing horizons to quiet harbors and small human moments that evoke joy and nostalgia. Influenced by French Impressionists and contemporary coastal painters, Aruna creates luminous works that invite the viewer to pause, breathe, and rediscover the beauty of the present moment. When she is not painting, she enjoys beach walks, discovering music, watching films with her husband, and spending time with their two cats.
Words that describe this painting: cloudscape, cloud, beach, coast, shore, summer, Marc Hanson...
Oil
Spring Bouquet, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Karen d'Angeac Mihm used an early-season bouquet from her flower subscription as a reference in this still life. Drawn to the delicate shapes and gracefu...
Oil
Olympic Jumper, American Impressionist Tapestry by LeRoy Neiman
By LeRoy Neiman
Located in Long Island City, NY
LeRoy Neiman, American (1921 - 2012) - Olympic Jumper, Year: 1989, Medium: Tapestry, signed and dated, Size: 84 x 60 in. (213.36 x 152.4 cm)
Tapestry
Rainy Sunday Morning, Oil Painting
By David Thelen
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
In this interior study, artist David Thelen explores the interplay of shadow and structure. A restrained palette of grays and soft blues emphasizes line and tex...
Oil
Duo, Oil Painting
By Judy Mackey
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Two large white hydrangea blooms fill a simple vase, their presence creating a quiet, intimate focus. Painted alla prima with a palette knife, the work is rich ...
Oil
Summer Reading, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
In a beautiful, sunlit garden, a young woman immerses herself in the world of literature. Surrounded by flowers, she enjoys the company of words. Bathed in a hazy glow, the scene exudes a timeless and romantic aura.
About the Artist
Sherri Aldawood didn't intend to always paint flowers, but over time her love of gardens started to permeate her art. She focuses on the light and color of the flowers on the canvas. Sherri prefers alla prima, working with wet layers of paint instead of letting them dry. She keeps the paint as wet as possible by using walnut and clove oil...
Oil
Modern Impressionist Oil of Ballet Dancers in Tutus by listed British Artist
Located in ludlow, GB
A Modern and traditional Impressionist Oil Painting of Ballet Dancers dressed in Tutus backstage before a performance. A Signed Oil on Canvas, mounted on stretchers and Framed in a ...
Oil
Rain on the Farm, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Fernando Garcia presents a sweeping landscape of vibrant yellow fields with farmhouses dotting the distance. He uses the rain on the plains as the main...
Acrylic
Learning from Rembrandt, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This painting combines two of artist Onelio Marrero's interests: his love for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and his fascination with observi...
Oil
Jazz Rehearsal, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A jazz rehearsal takes shape inside a weathered building. The musicians assemble beneath a lone overhead light spinning from a ceiling fan. They play with such ...
Acrylic
The Path at Glendalough Monastery, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This painting portrays one of the paths at the Glendalough Monastery in Ireland. The concealed monastery hosts numerous ruins of chapels and burial sites, wit...
Oil
First Picks, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Early morning sunlight streams across the interior of an antique store, casting a warm glow over the floor and displayed collectibles. A single collector arrive...
Oil
Meadow. 1992. Cardboard/oil. 31x42 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Edgars Vinters (1919-2014) Edgars Vinters is working in oil, watercolor and monotype techniques. He paints landscapes in different seasons and flowers. In 1970 the significant place...
Oil, Cardboard
In the Rough, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Whether hiking, golfing, or going for a walk, seeing the warm grasses beyond the forest trees is always a treat. The underbrush snaps at your ankles, making hea...
Acrylic
The Broadway Theatre, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The scene takes place inside Manhattan's Broadway Theatre, where audiences are starting to fill the box seats. Artist Onelio Marrero deliberately contrasts the ...
Oil
Poppies Aflutter, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Catherine McCargar illustrates alluring red flowers in a background of white. She captures the delicacy and transparency of gorgeous poppies she noticed in a local public garden. She creates a somewhat stylized arrangement of blooming stems. "It is punctuated by the addition of the buds as they dangle before bursting forth the seed capsules that remain after the petals drop," says Catherine.
About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California...
Watercolor
Sunday with Rodin, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
On a recent painting trip to Europe, artist Faye Vander Veer visited the Rodin Museum in Paris, where a sense of calm contrasted with the city's bustling ener...
Oil
Sunny forest cardboard/oil, 90x70cm
Located in Riga, LV
Sunny forest cardboard/oil, 90x70cm
Oil, Cardboard
Early Morning at the Irish National Stud Farm, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
While visiting the United Kingdom, artist Onelio Marrero explored the Irish National Stud Farm, known for breeding thoroughbred horses. The farm boasts breath...
Oil
Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, Florence, Italy - Inlaid Woodwork
Located in Soquel, CA
Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, Florence, Italy - Inlaid Woodwork Inlaid woodwork depicting the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in Florence, Italy. The top of the Cathedral is the ...
Wood, Wood Panel
Pink Peonies, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Large pink peonies bloom, their bright yellow stamens adding a vibrant contrast. Deep green leaves curl around each blossom, enhancing their lush beauty. Painte...
Acrylic
Angels and Patrons, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero portrays his niece examining Jules Bastien-Lepage’s 1879 painting of Joan of Arc receiving her life-changing vision. Set within a room...
Oil
Courtyard in Seville, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Light and shadow play harmoniously in the courtyard of Museo de Bellas Artes in Seville, Spain. Foliage basks in the sun, while the fountain stays cool in the...
Oil
View of Florence, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Sunlight bathes the facades and rooftops of Florence in warm, golden hues, creating a striking contrast against the cool purples and blues of the distant hills....
Oil
Modern Impressionist Ballet Oil Painting of Ballet Dancers in Tutus Backstage
Located in ludlow, GB
Modern Impressionist Ballet Oil Painting showing Ballet Dancers in their tutus backstage at the theatre. A Signed and Framed Oil on Canvas on stretchers, it has a choice of a modern...
Oil
Louis Emiel Chappel (1888-1963) "Floral Still Life II" Original Painting c.1950
By Louis Emiel Chappel
Located in San Francisco, CA
Louis Emiel Chappel (1888-1963) floral still life II oil painting, circa 1950s Beautiful full basket bouquet of flowers on a pedestal by listed artist Louis Chappel. Original oil o...
Canvas, Oil
Beachcombers, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A mother watches as her child searches for small treasures in the sand as the golden afternoon light shines across the shore. She savors this timeless scene of ...
Oil
Moonlight Run, Oil Painting
By Doug Cosbie
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The moon casts a soft glow over the snowy landscape. A jackrabbit’s sudden flight disrupts the stillness of the winter night. Gentle strokes and muted tones...
Oil
Quiet Horizons, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Aruna Rao captures the peaceful stillness of a sunlit dune path leading toward the open sea. Warm grasses glow in the gentle light, while a soft sky and ...
Oil
Cedar Vista, Original Painting
By David Forks
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Cedar trees, bluebonnets, and cacti grace a hilltop near Willow City, Texas. A body of water peeks through the edge of the grass-covered ground. The painterly...
Acrylic
Pink Water Lilies, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
An original oil painting titled Pink Water Lilies, inspired by the calm beauty of a blooming lily pond. I used both a palette knife and brush to create bold impasto texture for the f...
Oil
$6,168
Twentieth Century Traditional Figurative Portrait Oil of Lady in Victorian Dress
Located in ludlow, GB
Twentieth Century Traditional style Figurative Portrait Oil Painting on Canvas of Lady in a Victorian Dress. Beautiful Model in a white Victorian Gown wearing elegant gloves and looking pensive. Beautifully modelled and featuring Helen as the model who worked with the artist in the late 1980's. RENE JEROME LEGRAND British born 1953 Rene Legrand...
Oil
Nocturnal Water Lilies, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
As night approaches, the colors of the sky reflect on the pond, with the silhouette of trees filtering the fiery sunset. Water lilies pick up different hues a...
Oil
Autumnal Light: original Impressionist Landscape Oil painting, 100x100 cm
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet ...
Canvas, Oil
Winter Morning, Quiet Drama, Oil Painting
By Yangzi Xu
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Yangzi Xu captures a serene moment in Chicago's Theatre District. The quiet streets, dusted with a thin layer of snow, absorb the soft glow of the stre...
Oil
Tidewalkers, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Soft light glows across the shoreline in the calm of early evening. A person and their dog share a quiet moment in the surf, their bond gently framed by shimmer...
Oil
Feast for the Eyes, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero depicts a bright and airy greenhouse in the New York Botanical Gardens. "The couple introduced me and my wife to this lovely place," sha...
Oil
Harbor Reflections, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The quiet glow of evening light drifts across a peaceful marina. Warm sunlit sails and softened colors shimmer in the still water, while a crescent moon rises g...
Oil
Michel Henry Floral Still Life Oil Painting, Roses de Chine
By Michel Henry
Located in Milford, NH
A fine colorful impressionist floral still life painting titled Roses de Chine by French artist Michel Henry (1928-2016). Henry was born in Langres, France, attended the Ecole Nation...
Canvas, Oil
Olivier Foss Evening Cityscape Oil Painting, Paris Circa 1900 & Moulin Rouge
Located in Milford, NH
A wonderful cityscape of Paris and the famous Moulin Rouge circa 1900 by German artist Olivier Foss (1920-2014). Foss was born in Hanover, Germany, took his secondary education in Be...
Canvas, Oil
At the Louvre, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This painting puts the viewer inside one of the main hallways at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The depth draws attention from one figu...
Oil
Walking in Brooklyn, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
In her pared-down impressionist approach, artist Carey Parks illustrates three men walking on a sidewalk. Inspired by a photo refer...
Acrylic
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
Beneath the Arches, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The impressionist painting captures the ease of a sunlit afternoon spent in a Mediterranean garden courtyard. Warm light filters th...
Oil
Ephemeral Koi, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A gasp of koi swims just below the pond's surface. The ripples and reflections of the water complement the carefree movement of the fish. Loose yet precise brus...
Oil
Soft Wind in the Pines, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A young man sits under the shade of trees, sketching intently en plein air. The composition features artist Onelio Marerro's former student engaged with natur...
Oil
Edwardian Impressionist English Landscape Oil Painting of Findon, Sussex
Located in ludlow, GB
Edwadian early Twentieth Century Impressionist English Landscape Oil Painting of Findon, Sussex. William Lee Hankey - Large Framed Oil Painting. English Landscape with Sun dappled ...
Oil
Williamsburg VA in Spring
Located in Milford, NH
A fine spring scene in historic Williamsburg, Virginia with the Governor’s Palace in the background by American artist Guy Carleton Wiggins (1883-1962). Wiggins was born in Brooklyn,...
Canvas, Oil
Last Light on the Water Lilies, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Working on the subject of water lilies and sunset reflections, artist Onelio Marrero portrays a pond mirroring the colors of the sk...
Oil
Stream, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A stream winds between green fields, with a small patch of white in its blue water reflecting the clouds above. Trees in the distance add vertical contrast, whi...
Acrylic