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.
Stream in the Woods, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Tall, slender trees line a narrow stream in the foreground, their dark trunks partially obscuring a bright, open field in the background. The scene exudes a cal...
Acrylic
Vineyard by the House, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A narrow path cuts through a lush vineyard, its gray surface blending with the muted sky and highlighting the greenery. Distant roofs and poles add rural rhythm...
Acrylic
Late Evening Redstone Colorado, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This landscape painting beautifully captures Redstone, Colorado, renowned for its stunning scenery and as a popular filming location. In the late summer eveni...
Oil
Street View, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Bright sunlight sweeps across the landscape. Lush bushes and palm trees line the roadside, casting soft shadows below. Rolling hills rise on the horizon, hazy i...
Acrylic
Struck Brightly by the Winter, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
While visiting friends, artist Onelio Marrero woke in the early hours to a beautiful spectacle of freshly fallen snow in their yard. The playground lay covered ...
Oil
Morning Glory, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Inspired by a walk through a local Colorado open space at sunrise, this landscape captures the first rays of light as they break across a farmhouse setting. L...
Oil
$1,430
London Skyline and Thames at Night, Original Contemporary Impressionism painting
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 C...
Canvas, Oil
Blue Ridge Mountains Fall Colors, Oil Painting
By Doug Cosbie
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A weathered log farmhouse stands near the start of the Blue Ridge Trail, which stretches from southern Pennsylvania to Georgia. Autumn foliage surrounds the str...
Oil
$16,550
"Santa Maria Novella" M.Dalessio, Oil Painting, Realist Landscape, Tuscany, 2007
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting by American plein-air painter, and award winning portrait painter Marc Dalessio. A depiction of the rolling hills of Tuscany. Cultivated nature lives on the left wit...
Oil, Panel, Wood Panel
Best Day at Dunn's Pond, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Dunn Pond, in Gardner, Massachusetts, is a spectacular visual and sensory delight. Originally a glacial formation, it has now been developed into a local park. ...
Acrylic
Peggy's Cove, Oil Painting
By Joanie Ford
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Boats rest gently in the harbor of a quaint fishing village in Nova Scotia. Cozy homes and shacks dot the coastline, their windows glowing warmly in the fadin...
Oil
Dunes at Nags Head, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Shrubs and wild growth spread across the dunes in Nags Head, North Carolina. Earthy greens and soft purple shadows trace the rises and flat stretches of land. A...
Acrylic
Behold What Tomorrow Brings, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A woman stands before an oval mirror, preparing for bedtime. She gently brushes her hair, her posture relaxed and absorbed in the quiet moment. Warm, intimate l...
Oil
Road Through Backcountry, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Rolling green fields stretch underneath a wide blue sky. A pale road winds through the landscape and disappears into the distance. In painting this scene, artis...
Acrylic
$483
Mid Century French Picture Frame original Vintage Shabby Chic Grey Beige Color
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
French mid 20th century Wood and plaster frame Internal measurement (to house painting or mirror): 22 x 15 inches Overal outer measurements: 27 x 20 inches Provenance: from a collect...
Plaster, Wood
Goodbye Summer, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero captures her granddaughter walking along a low tide surf in the late afternoon light on a New Jersey beach. She strolls along the receding...
Oil
Severance, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A butcher knife hangs on a kitchen backsplash, its dark blade contrasting with the white tiles bathed with the warm glow of sunset. Soap, sponge, and dishware r...
Oil
California Summer Hills, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Tree-studded hills and valleys in California glow under the summer sun. Dramatic shadows in deep blues and purples dot the golden grass, creating a striking c...
Watercolor
Shared Silence, Oil Painting
By Mary Pratt
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Three women stand poised in quiet communion. Flowing white forms and dark bodices balance softness and strength. Floral motifs echo their inner lives, suggest...
Oil
Samhain, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Halloween decorations adorn the front yard of a house in Chicago at night in October. A glowing jack-o'-lantern sits behind...
Oil
The Fortified Village Walls Saint Robert France, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Gav Banns
Located in Yardley, PA
I typically paint the region of France where I live, which covers quite a large area. This painting is from my visit to Saint-Robert, a very quaint village in the Correze, known as o...
Oil
The Patient Heron, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero captures a sense of serenity, referencing a gentle river near his home. "Almost indistinguishable is the lone patient heron poised on a ...
Oil
Hasidic Mother And Child In The Surf, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero captures a gentle moment of a Hasidic mother and her child enjoying the surf as the tide rolled in. While out on the New Jersey seashore...
Oil
Quiet Contrast, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This still life painting depicts lemons, a teapot, cups and saucers, and a bowl of grapes arranged on a fabric-lined table. The objects sit close together, fo...
Oil
Eldorado Rock Pool, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
An impressionist nature painting captures a scene in Eldorado Canyon, Colorado, overlooking a rock pool in South Boulder Creek. Hikers and bathers are drawn t...
Oil
Kitty Comfort, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A young girl sleeps peacefully as she hugs a marmalade tabby kitten. Thick, impressionistic oil paint, influenced by Russian art, builds the scene with rich tex...
Oil
Just Peachy, Oil Painting
By Lisa Nielsen
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This impressionist still life painting by artist Lisa Nielsen features two vases filled with red, yellow, and orange flowers. Peaches and cherries rest nearby, ...
Oil
After the Rain, Original Painting
By Nava Lundy
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Muted grays and warm earth tones come together in this atmospheric scene, capturing the quiet pause that follows a rainfall. Expressive brushstrokes and layered...
Acrylic
Radiant Backdraft, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This backlit study of paper and a peeled orange captures the luminous effect of a strong, direct light. Warm and cool shadows create dramatic contrast across ...
Oil
As Evening Descends, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Early evening colors reflect on a peaceful lake, painting its surface with soft purple hues. Aquatic plants pick up different tones as they recede into the sh...
Oil
Everyone on a Mission, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero depicts the bustling energy of Midtown Manhattan traffic, looking south on a rainy afternoon. Dashing yet precise brushstrokes convey move...
Oil
Here to Forever, Original Painting
By Nava Lundy
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A soft, layered floral painting features muted greens, blush tones, and quiet bursts of red. The petals drift in and out of focus, giving it the feeling of a me...
Acrylic
Sheridan Park, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A residential street in Sheridan Park, Chicago, looks peaceful beneath the July night sky. Deep blues dominate the upper portion, blending with purple clouds be...
Oil
Summer's Blaze, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Fierce orange and red flowers rise against a smoldering blue sky, with loose brushstrokes alive with urgency. The poppies flare up, wild and restless, as if the...
Acrylic
Scarlet, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A woman dressed in a red robe reclines across a bed, lost in happy daydreams. A yellow rose rests beside her, complementing her brassiere. The red sheet and cus...
Oil
Early Fall, York County, Pennsylvania, Oil Painting
By Doug Cosbie
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Two barns rest on a quiet farm, surrounded by autumn colors. The overcast morning softens the warm tones across the rolling hills. The scene captures the serene...
Oil
Afternoon Blues, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A blonde woman wearing a teal satin blouse leans on her hand as she drifts into a mid-afternoon sleep. Flowers surround her, signaling the merging of fantasy wi...
Oil
High Desert Morning, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A golden glow fills the early morning sky overhead a vast desert. Shades of red, green, and orange capture the essence of the landscape. The scene evokes a se...
Acrylic
Oasis, Oil Painting
By Mandy Main
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A close-up painting depicts the Palm Canyon stream nestling among rocks and desert vegetation. Clusters of grasses and desert plants grow along the banks, their...
Oil
Echoes of Peace in Green and Blue, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This impressionist painting captures a quiet moment from an unusual vantage point. Seen from above, a woman reclines leisurely on a bright blue inner tube, one ...
Oil
Cafes in Portugal, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
While walking the Camino de Santiago, artist Jonelle Summerfield arrived in Vila Nova de Cerveira and paused, unsure which direction to take. Though tired from ...
Oil
Edge of the Woods II, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Pale yellow fields and orange-red bushes reflect the warmth of autumn in Harriman State Park, New York State. Expressive paintwork captures the movement and tex...
Acrylic
Bougainvillea Villa, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Soft foreground grasses draw attention to a cluster of Southwestern homes nestled amongst lush trees. Impressionistic brushwork imparts texture and movement to ...
Watercolor
Paradise Farm, Original Painting
By Judy Mudd
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Rustic, weathered barns and outbuildings dot a pastoral farm in this impressionist watercolor painting. Cows wander in the foreground while additional farmhouse...
Watercolor
Summer Night's Bean, Oil Painting
By Yangzi Xu
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
After lingering near an outdoor concert in Chicago, artist Yangzi Xu found inspiration in an unexpected view. The city curves across the reflective surface of C...
Oil
The Garden's Upper Story, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Deep purple and red leaves stand out against a background of bright foliage. Artist Catherine McCargar, an avid gardener and watercolorist, drew inspiration fro...
Watercolor
Early Sunday Morning, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Morning sunlight covers the dining room table with a warm, amber glow. The flower arrangement of orchids and willow rests prominently on the table, with a bra...
Oil
Paddling the Bay, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Textured brushwork and a cool, earthy palette capture the atmospheric depth of a mountain inlet. Rhythmic strokes animate the water and clouds while instilling ...
Oil
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
Majestic, Oil Painting
By Karen Barton
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A powerful buffalo strides into view, its massive form radiating strength and dignity. In this oil painting, artist Karen Barton captures not only the animal’...
Oil
Everything Else Can Wait, Original Painting
By Nava Lundy
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Soft coastal colors and loose, expressive brushwork evoke the relaxed rhythm of a day at the beach. The scene suggests striped cabanas and umbrellas layered int...
Acrylic
Downhill Path, Provence, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A path winds through a farm and vineyards in Provence, France. Rows of trees stretch across the landscape, drawing the eye into the distance. Painted with both ...
Acrylic
Children at Low Tide, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero shares a tender moment of children swimming by the sea. Part of a series of summer paintings that explo...
Oil
Early walk, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
An early walk, oil on canvas 25x30x2 cm :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Sig...
Oil
Forest Spring, Oil on cardboard. 23x32 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
Second Cascade at Boonton, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero captures the river running through his hometown. The foaming cascade and gentle ripples in the pooled water beyond the boulders convey a s...
Oil
Where the Fire Is Safe, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Snowstorms in New Jersey inspired artist Onelio Marrero to paint this winter landscape and convey a scene of solitude. A man stands on a nearly frozen river as ...
Oil
Serenity and Movement, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero paints a raft of ducks swimming in a pond surrounded by spring foliage. "I have been observing ducks in their habitats in order to paint...
Oil
Whitewashed Barn, Oil Painting
By Doug Cosbie
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Whitewashed barns capture a timeless Americana charm. Rolling hills and a clear blue sky frame the structures, creating a serene, inviting atmosphere. Artist Do...
Oil
Island Sunset, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A peaceful sunset descends over Vancouver Island in Canada. Energetic brushstrokes and muted colors convey drifting clouds and distant mountains. Vibrant yet mo...
Acrylic