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.
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With a contrasting cool-hued trunk and sun-kissed branches and leaves, an oak tree boasts a stylized image. Under the brilliant sky, the surrounding woodland ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A dirt path winds through the woods, sheltered from the sun by towering trees. The artwork, painted with a brush and palette knife, features bold strokes and ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Rugged cliffs meet the gentle Pacific waves. Vibrant wildflowers add a touch of whimsy to the scene, with their blue, yellow, and lavender petals complementin...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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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
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Fiery clouds streak across the sky, gently illuminating the dark landscape below. In the distance, hints of cobalt blue contrast sharply with the red-orange g...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
1990s Impressionist More Art
Oil, Cardboard
1930s Impressionist More Art
Paper, Etching
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Panel, Wood Panel
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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
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Artist Catherine McCargar paints vibrant purple flowers cut fresh from her lawn. "This summer, after plentiful winter rains, the buddleia or butterfly bushes in my garden are full of lush blooms," shares Catherine. She gathers a bunch and paints them in an impressionist style, letting the watercolors flow together. Catherine makes a delicate and painterly portrait of the blossoming stems.
About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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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...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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On a trip to Provence, artist Elizabeth Garat found herself lost and stumbled upon a picturesque moment in a village alley. The scene reminded her of Claude M...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Golden leaves line the banks of a serene river in North Carolina. Bare branches on the opposite side contrast with the warm, sunlit trees. The vibrant colors ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Soft pastel hues flow across the tranquil waters as wispy clouds drift lazily overhead. There’s nothing quite like setting sail on Lake Champlain in Upstate...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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The scene features vast open fields, mountains, and a horizon. Distant rolling sky and sweeping clouds capture the beauty of changing weather patterns. Shrubs...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Two soft pink peonies bloom gracefully in a clear glass vase. Their petals and lush green leaves spill outward, contrasting beautifully with the muted backgro...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Cypress trees and ice plants frame a cove near Monterey, California. The purple and pink flowers add a vibrant touch to the scene, while loose, impressionisti...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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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
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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
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Artist Carey Parks presents an impressionist still life of dainty flowers on a glass cylinder. Taking a small bunch from a large bo...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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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
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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
1990s Impressionist More Art
Oil, Cardboard
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Bold strokes capture a partially nude woman against a deep, muted background. Artist Judy Mackey uses minimal detail, intentionally leaving the face blank to ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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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
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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
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Small boats line a harbor in San Sebastian, Spain, their colorful hulls reflecting in the water. The summer sun casts a warm glow over the scene. Impressionis...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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At sunset, the landscape basks in the last ray of light. The gradual transition to the evening sky brings a golden color to the rural areas of Pennsylvania. F...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Carey Parks paints two pink flowers in a glass vase. Her impressionist style depicts the petals with a soft velvety feel. The oversized nature of the b...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Late 19th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Orange and gold foliage harmonize with the auburn and maroon hues of the forest, creating a tranquil scene through an analogous color palette. The composition...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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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 giv...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
2010s Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
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Artist Jeff Fleming captures a cat in its playful nature. Bathed in a soft morning light, this furry tabby frolics in a field of sweet peas, possibly chasing ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist James Nyika captures the inviting interior of the popular Java House café in Nairobi, Kenya. With an impressionist touch, he highlights the warm and w...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil, Panel
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A cozy street in Prague glows with vibrancy after a rainfall. Refreshed leaves adorn the trees, houses exude a renewed radiance, and the wet pavement glistens...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Tall, sunlit pine trees frame the breathtaking view of Monterey Bay from a hilltop. Bold strokes define the lush greens, colorful wildflowers, and serene wate...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Lisa Elley depicts a glade of autumnal aspens in a rustic woodland. Once a year, she takes her fall sojourn to the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains to s...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Cypress and pine trees frame a serene view of a cove facing the Pacific Ocean. The beach shimmer in the distance as wisps of fog lift into the blue sky. Bold ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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After learning from his painting mistakes, artist Benjamin Thomas now embraces experimentation. He notes that using a palette knife to apply paint quickly oft...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Soft clouds blend with a bright blue sky, where five birds soar in a serene atmosphere. The scene takes inspiration from artist Karen Barton's observation of ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Bright sunlight filters through the leaves of a towering live oak tree, casting dappled shadows on the winding path below. Surrounding foliage creates a rich ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Yangzi captures Chicago’s Loop at the intersection of Randolph and State Streets as day transitions into night. Soft twilight blends with the vibrant...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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The Alpilles, a small mountain range in Provence, France, inspired artist Janet Dyer. She captured the contrast between its shadowed...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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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
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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...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Lisa Elley shows her signature palette knife trees textured with deep impasto strokes. The foliage exhibits subtle movement and richness in colors. Lis...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist David Thelen captures a timber laying on the green meadow. "I wonder about the purpose of the tree being cut and abandoned in the woods," says David. T...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Bare trees in the foreground stand against a softly colored sky transitioning from a warm, glowing orange to a gentle yellow. A path cuts through the scene, w...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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Pink petals stand out amidst a bed of lush green leaves. Artist Catherine McCargar, an avid gardener and dedicated watercolorist, painted these coneflowers gr...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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Windswept cypress trees lean along the coast near Carmel, California. Distant water merges with the sky, blending their shades of blue, while touches of purpl...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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This painting was inspired by the beautiful scenery of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Mountain peaks are numerous with the Olympic Mountains...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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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, whil...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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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
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Artist Carey Parks illustrates a vibrant spring bouquet on a dark turquoise vase. She cuts the tulips and daffodils directly from her garden and arranges them...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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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
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An old white shed stands by the roadside, upright and still in use after many years. Its weathered exterior tells a story of resilience, a familiar sight in t...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
