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
A person walks down a rainy Manhattan street under a blue umbrella. Glowing storefronts line the sidewalk, adding warmth to the cool, wet surroundings. Inspir...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Wildflowers sway with the sea breeze, their vibrant petals complementing the blueness of the sky and water. Painted en plein air, artist Lisa Elley captures t...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A playful interaction between shapes and colors in nature unfolds in this fantastical landscape. Two predominant areas of light create a silhouette, casting o...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
One of artist Tara Zalewsky-Nease's favorite genres is the kitchen still life. A prolific cook and painter, she creates compositions of singular ingredients, ca...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero portrays his youngest daughter, a photographer, capturing the beauty of nature at the Morris County Arboretum in New Jersey. The paintin...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
This contemporary figurative painting captures the tranquil beauty of a gardener strolling down a garden path, viewed from above. The focal point is the garde...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Fresh, crisp air overtakes the remnants of fall in this impressionistic painting. The soft, filtered light of sundown paints the riverbanks in golden hues. Caug...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A dark silhouette of an aircraft cuts across a cloud-filled sky. The stark contrast between them creates a sense of isolation. Artist Mark Cudd reflects on the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Using a palette knife, artist Janet Dyer paints a rural landscape in rich, jewel-like tones. A cloudy sky softens the light, revealing layered colors that shi...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A road lined with vibrant sagebrushes leads to snow-covered mountains. The autumn colors burst with energy. Bright oranges, yellows, and purples contrast the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
The cafes of Puente la Reina are lively before the siesta. Sunlight filters through lush green trees, casting dappled shadows across a bustling sidewalk. Warm...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A tapas restaurant comes into view, a place for locals and tourists alike to relish the pleasures of food and drinks. The warm...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A watercolor painting depicting a serene coastal scene. A small white boat rests on calm water in the foreground, evoking tranquility. In the background, two ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
This painting combines palette knife and brush techniques, using heavy impasto to create a richly textured surface. Vibrant pink, magenta, and green hues are ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
As part of his Cityscape Series, artist Stanislav Sidorov captures Andreevsky Spusk Street with a vibrant palette. The cathedral oversees the city, its bells ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
This evocative impressionist painting captures the essence of a garden by the pond. With loose brushwork and bold palette knife techniques, this piece exudes ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
The lake in Wisconsin remains beautiful even in winter, its frozen surface turning white as snow accumulates. In the evening, the icy expanse reflects soft bl...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
2010s Impressionist More Art
Linen, Oil
Artist Comments
New Jersey artist Brian McCarthy grew up in a rural area near the New York border, where grazing animals were a common sight. In this oil painting, he capture...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Mountains inspire, intimidate, shape weather, shelter wildlife, and hold secrets. This piece draws inspiration from artist Melissa Gannon's trip to the Wallow...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
An array of colors presents itself before the sun dips behind the mountains. Shadows drape the landscape in cold blues and violets while the water reflects th...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
This painting vividly captures a lively sunset at Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz, California. The sky's reflection ripples with the rolling waves, b...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Flowers bloom vibrantly beneath the windows as the Mediterranean sun highlights the character of the quaint stone walls and shutters. The composition captures...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Two hummingbirds spread their wings, soaring gracefully against a pastel green backdrop that evokes the vibrancy of a sunlit garden. Inspired by artist Karen ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
As the evening falls, Michigan Avenue in Chicago bustles with activity as pedestrians stroll down the sidewalk. The iconic lampposts of The Magnificent Mile c...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Rows of vibrant lavender stretch toward the horizon, their rich purple hues contrasting with golden pathways. Warm sunlight bathes the landscape, casting a gl...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A slice of cheese, apricots, and a glass of wine rest on a purple table. Painted with fingers, the piece radiates a personal touch and intimacy. The impressio...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
I painted this piece from sketches I did from a small Eastern European town. The old buildings and houses are highlighted through amazing texture.
Abou...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
This artwork captures the hot, dry atmosphere of the Potomac Highlands in West Virginia. Rustic barns and copper-colored fields stand beneath a cloudless, viv...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A peacock couple perches on a tree branch, their majestic feathers cascading over the greenery. With their ethereal presence, they appear to be watchers guardin...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
An abundance of foliage thrives by a small lake, basking in the morning sun. The running water distorts the leaves' reflections on its surface, creating a shimm...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
The painting depicts a quintessential view of Portland, Maine's Old Port. Fishing boats are moored in the harbor, their reflections dancing on the serene blue...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
2010s Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Houses and cottages dot a quiet street inspired by the township of Sterling in Ontario, Canada. Bathed in the warm sunlight, the setting comes to life with bo...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero paints a majestic sunrise on Long Island with vibrant colors and rich brushwork. "I am always up early to witness the morning skies wher...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
The lifeguard tower, palm trees, and beachgoers bask in the sun on a radiant summer day. The wind blows the clouds across the s...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Sunlight bathes a traditional adobe courtyard with a kiva fireplace at the center. Hollyhocks, ristas, and lupine add pops of color against the neutral garden...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Orange and red trees embrace the mountains in Mount Washington Valley, creating a bold, expressive display of autumn hues. The moon casts a gentle glow over t...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Tall trees line a winding path, their dark trunks contrasting with the warm, glowing light filling the sky. Using a limited palette, the scene captures the ri...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Afternoon sunlight filters through the branches of a sturdy tree, casting dappled shadows on its trunk. A porch and hedge sit quietly in the background, enhan...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Kira Yustak paints a bed of dandelions with two bumblebees hovering above. The airy flowers provide essential food to pollinators as the first blooms o...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Much of artist Benjamin Thomas's work is rooted in memory and mistakes rather than direct observation of life. After learning from his painting mishaps, he no...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A cherub statue and a sliced pear rest among vibrant purple flowers and lush leaves. The warm, earthy soil complements the greenery. Artist Sherri Aldawood pa...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Cozy cottages line up snugly on a quiet street in the coastal town of Mendocino, California. The scene leads to the top of the road, where the sky blends into...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Nestled in Coastal Big Sur, California, the jagged cliffs meet the soothing azure waves, creating a picturesque scenery. Enhanced by the vibrant hues of the wildflower...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A vibrant sky shifts rapidly over sparkling water, turning the coastal scene into a radiant realm. The composition evokes serenity and a deep exploration of t...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
As the sun descends, it leaves a wondrous gift, bathing the seascape in a beautiful array of colors. Yellow and orange hues grace the darkening sky while irid...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A traveler sits on the edge of a fountain, resting under the shade. Nearby, a lady crossing the street seems also to be seeking refuge from the sun. Shaded sp...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
People revel in the beauty of a sun-soaked beach and refreshing water. A man runs along the sandy shore, while a woman in a yellow swimsuit wades into the spa...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Tables filled with boisterous groups of people dining to enjoy the balmy weather, good food, and Spanish wine line the streets of Seville. Warm light spills o...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
The bustling Loop district in Chicago comes alive with its iconic glow as streetlights and signs illuminate the buildings and...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A variety of plants thrive around Lake Temescal, nestled in the Oakland Hills of the California Bay Area. The lush greenery reflects in the still water, addin...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
