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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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
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Artist Siyuan Ma illustrates the Shanhua Temple, located inside the ancient city of Datong in Shanxi Province–a key cultural relic under state-level protec...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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Artist Colette Wirz Nauke paints a bird perched on a tree. Plump red berries adorn the meandering branches, creating a sense of movement and vitality to the p...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Siyuan Ma depicts Shanhua Temple, located inside the ancient city of Datong in Shanxi Province–a key cultural relic under state-level protection. "S...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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This impressionist painting is part of a series by artist Onelio Marrero, exploring craftsmen at work in their environments. Within this interior scene, Oneli...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Colette Wirz Nauke paints a bird roosting on a tree branch. Purple and violet flowers envelop the trunks and branches, highlighting the beauty of the b...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Linen, Oil
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Artist Maurice Dionne shows the activity around the transit station, waiting for an incoming train. "In this particular case, we are at the U of Ottawa statio...
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 Carey Parks paints four people crossing paths in a city park. "This photo was captured on a busy Saturday morning in Union S...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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From an aerial perspective, the figurative painting of a bicycle rider establishes a flat space and a distinctive viewpoint. The combination of muted grays an...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Janet Dyer presents an impressionist grassland neighboring a small pond. "A calm scene with a bit of mystery," describes Janet. Sunlight gleams on the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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In his signature style, artist Warren Keating draws inspiration from a character he saw on a Santa Fe Plaza restaurant balcony. Using perspective and textural...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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"Thunder only happens when it's going to rain," says artist Valerie Berkely. The shoreline exudes a moody ambiance with its hues of purple and blue illuminate...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Samuel Pretorius illustrates a modest thrift shop in an old rural town in California. Standing amidst the rugged beauty of Anza, he finds himself capti...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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This impressionist painting captures a quiet suburban landscape. A secluded house nestles under a lush canopy of trees, with a vast meadow stretching out befo...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
2010s Impressionist More Art
Encaustic
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"I often wander in the woods and discover unexpected treasures," says artist David Thelen. He captures an old truck parked on a dirt road that winds through t...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Catherine McCargar captures the peaceful ambiance of a September morning in the countryside. She paints a view of Harmony, a tiny town along the central California coast just south of Cambria. The iconic farmhouse is enveloped by soft golden grasses and cool blue hills, imparting a tranquil feel to the scenic surroundings.
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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Sunlight filters through a lush canopy of trees, casting a warm glow and gentle shade upon a tranquil canyon stream. Artist Jeff Fleming enhances the water's ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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"This artwork is inspired by a vista I saw while on a camping trip to the Allegany Mountains," says artist David Thelen. The verdant trees bask in the sun's w...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Maurice Dionne shows a view of the Rocky Mountains under a thick layer of snow. The skier, enticed by the vast expanse of pristine white powder, gracef...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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Artist Onelio Marrero presents a fellow artist working outdoors. Bold shades of green permeate the lush spring foliage surrounding him. "I was out in a park w...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Catherine McCargar presents a bright and lively impressionist rendering of flowers and leaves. They bloom profusely in a garden, celebrating abundance and color. The flowers, dahlias, roses, and pansies, growing so closely together, resemble a bouquet. "I am equally interested in gardening pursuits as I am in creating paintings," shares Catherine.
About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California. While she is well-versed in a range of media, her preferred medium for painting is watercolor. The fluidity of the paint allows her to capture the muted undertones and the fleeting light found in the natural world. While the backgrounds of her paintings are impressionistic, the foregrounds of her paintings are often highly detailed, showcasing her technical mastery over her medium.
Words that describe this painting: flora, nature, garden, roses, spring, summer, season, flora, flowers, dahlia, pansy, pansies, botanical, watercolor, paper, impressionism, impressionism, flora, watercolor painting, green
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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Artist John Jaster presents a lifeguard tower in Miami Beach with an impressionist approach. The bright colors and unique design reflect the bustling and ecle...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Valerie Berkely offers a dreamy, atmospheric scene that guides the eyes toward the distant horizon. The rich pastel hues evoke a sense of autumn tranqu...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Valerie Berkely offers a dreamy, atmospheric coastal scene that soothes the soul. The pastel tones of the seascape calm the eye, creating a profound se...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Evening fall colors in a historical part of Washington DC with beautiful architecture together look harmonic and full of nice ene...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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"The Crescent Hotel, built in 1938, is one of the famous Art Deco buildings in Miami's South Beach," shares artist John Jaster. He pictures the historical arc...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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"Sometimes, when you lose your way in life, you will find yourself in a quiet place," says artist Jeff Fleming. In a secluded lake corner, he captures a scene...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Siyuan Ma exhibits a panoramic view of mountains engulfed by a mysterious fog. He presents aesthetic imagery that can take the viewer into a dreamlike ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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Artist Siyuan Ma presents a snow-capped landscape enveloped by light fog. The abstract imagery takes the viewer into a dreamlike worl...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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Artist Siyuan Ma depicts a temple towering on the ancient city walls of China. These buildings stand as critical defensive structures and serve as important p...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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Artist Judy Mackey exhibits a glorious display of the United States flag. "Being an expatriate growing up in a foreign country gave me a deep love for our US ...
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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Artist Carey Parks illustrates a woman walking along the streets of New York City. She bundles herself in a coat and scarf as she listens to music, unbothered...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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In her pared-down impressionist approach, artist Carey Parks illustrates three men walking on a sidewalk. Inspired by a photo refer...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Carey Parks illustrates a crowd of pedestrians crossing the street. She captures the image on a bright and sunny but cold Saturday in New York City. "T...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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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 Shela Goodman paints a silhouette of a man in his boat, floating peacefully on a bright still lake. With his motor engine up and rope in his hands, he ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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"This painting is a closer-up version of an earlier work called French Laundry," shares artist Catherine McCargar. She uses the same technique of priming the watercolor paper with a layer of gesso as the first painting. The process gives more fluidity to the paint, enabling her to execute wet-on-wet and to move it around as she sees fit. Catherine achieves a truly impressionistic painting with contrasting soft and hard edges that keep the viewer engaged.
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
2010s Impressionist More Art
Gesso, Canvas, Paper, Acrylic Polymer, Acrylic
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Artist Maurice Dionne paints a trio exploring the Mer Bleu Bog in an unexpected nature escape in Ottawa. "Located in the east end of the city, this unique bog...
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
Artist Comments
Artist Maurice Dionne illustrates a glimpse of O'Connor Street in Ottawa. He draws inspiration from the quality of light and the steeple, evident in the background. The light, the cars, and all the reflections create dynamic movement in the scene. "In sketching, I left a lot of impressionistic areas to catch your imagination," says Maurice.
About the Artist
Artist Maurice Dionne paints watercolor scenes of Ottawa, from quiet city walks to charming Victorian homes. "The transparency of the medium is truly remarkable; it allows so much light to shine through," says Maurice. He devotedly captures the mood and vibrancy most often inspired by the people around him. He finished a degree in science but ultimately decided to embrace his true freedom of expression. Now a full-time artist, he commits to a home studio as his haven of creativity, where he has access to artist-grade material that ensures that his pieces will be archival and endure the test of time. Maurice's work received merits from The Marketer Art Competition in 2020 and 2021 and was featured in the Electric Street Gallery, Ottawa Art Gallery, and Art Gallery of Ontario. He relishes cycling, hiking, kayaking, reading, and visiting specialty coffee shops with his spouse in his spare time.
Words that describe this painting: street, road, watercolor, cars, buildings, pedestrians, city, cityscape, architecture, travel, Canada, dome, buildings, impressionism, paper, architecture, impressionism, travel, watercolor painting, beige
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Panel
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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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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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The Russian forests that I grew up exploring were somewhat like those in eastern Canada and the Northeast US. You can just as e...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A high vantage point reveals the breathtaking beauty of an island near the Cape of Good Hope. The composition showcases the vast, shimmering ocean and rugged ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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The artwork captures the awe-inspiring Wolfberg Arch, a natural sandstone formation located in South Africa's Cederberg mountain range within the Western Cape...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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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
20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, 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
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Two hummingbirds spread their wings and soar gracefully. The pastel green background evokes a lush garden on a sunny day. The scene takes inspiration from art...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Late 19th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil
