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.
Secret Beach, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A tiny beach on Maui offers just enough space for a few painters or beachgoers to settle in. The breeze gently sweeps the tree and pushes the waves between the ...
Oil
San Sebastian Beach, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The beach in San Sebastian, Spain, is a chaotic paradise. People fill the sand and water, walking around to show off their stylish beachwear, and playing betwee...
Oil
Rhapsody, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Rhapsody is a painting about how things move and come together. It is like music when the water swirls and creates a beautiful canvas. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece co...
Oil
Renaissance, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
History carries us forward. The love and life of those before us have created our world. Having done an art history tour in Europe, I am reminded of my time learning about great ar...
Oil
Soft Glow, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
A rendering of a lily pond with a soft glow of light to give you that tranquility that we all need. A sweet piece for any small space. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece come...
Oil
Juliet in Love, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
When we have a love that is all consuming and we need it more than the air we breathe. Time may have carried on but the feelings felt by one who loves so deeply has been understood ...
Oil
Edwards Plateau Spring, Original Painting
By David Forks
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Spring blooms brightly on the Edwards Plateau, northwest of San Antonio in the Texas Hill Country. A meadow bursts with yellow, red, and orange flowers, while o...
Acrylic
After Glow, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
This painting is about the moment you are beaming right after you fall in love. We change, and we find ourselves giddy with the notion that we are connected to another person in the...
Oil
Champagne, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
To celebrate life this is a 'raining' champagne on the pond! It is a painting that I wish will bring you joy and good times this year and all to come! :: Painting :: Impressionist :...
Oil
Cappuccino, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Cappuccino is about relaxing, feeling the strokes in this painting will bring you to a calm place. With the world going at a very fast pace with all the information flooding our min...
Oil
Pondering Love, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Pondering Love is definitely a pass time for so many people! How do we equate what love is and how to respond to it. I believe we spend a lot of our lives thinking about love. :: P...
Oil
Monet's Bequest to Us, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Impressionism has been a gift from Monet to us. The freedom that has come to us is amazing and as an artist I am thrilled to have learned the acceptance of simply painting how one f...
Oil
Jasmine, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Like a comforting sip of green tea, Jasmine is the reflection of serenity in a lily pond. With the rushing world there is nothing better than to relate to art that soothes your soul...
Oil
Modern Impressionist Large Bright Floral Oil Painting of Water Lilies in Pond
Located in ludlow, GB
Modern Impressionist Large Floral Oil Painting of Water Lilies in a Lily Pond, a large bright Oil on Canvas with a nod to Monet's Water Lilies at Giverny. This is a large Oil Paint...
Oil
A Study in Green, Oil Painting
By Mary Pratt
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A pale, winding path curves gently through a grassy expanse. Subtle textures and layered brushwork suggest motion and a soft atmospheric depth. Hues of green, b...
Oil
Lily the Way, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
An energetic small painting ready to enliven any space. It is a happy movement piece! :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity s...
Oil
Reflecting Movement in Colours, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
A tranquil small pond painting to sooth the soul. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang:...
Oil
On a Winter's Evening, Oil Painting
By Yangzi Xu
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Yangzi Xu captures the vibrant energy of downtown Chicago as dusk descends over the city. A cyclist glides effortlessly through the illuminated streets...
Oil
Chasing Victory, Original Painting
By Nava Lundy
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The scene captures the powerful movement and elegance of a polo player mid-game. Rich, textured brushstrokes convey the energy and immediacy of the moment. Bold...
Acrylic
The Wish, Oil Painting
By Jesse Aldana
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A child stands in front of a fountain in a park. She contemplates the number of wishes it would take to alter the flow of the water. The sun rises behind the tr...
Oil
Tracks to Lamy in Early Spring, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
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...
Acrylic
The Trail, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A narrow trail cuts through a wide, sunlit plain. Trees and bushes cast long shadows on the ground, enhancing the sense of space and warmth. Painted in plein ai...
Oil
Trees in Sunlight, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Two trees stand under the sun and cast cool shadows onto the grass. The trunks and foliage catch the light, making the scene glow and feel alive. Painted with a...
Acrylic
Marmalade Sky, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The colors of the sky shifted quickly during an evening walk, prompting artist Benjamin Thomas to capture its marmalade appeal. Bright orange and pastel pink cl...
Acrylic
Eucalyptus at the Marina, Oil Painting
By Mandy Main
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This plein air painting captures a eucalyptus tree shimmering in the warm late afternoon light. Behind an embankment, only the masts of sailboats and the roofli...
Oil
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
Obidos Evening, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The evening sun bathes the historic village of Obidos, Portugal, in warm golden light, casting soft shadows on whitewashed buildings. A winding cobblestone stre...
Oil
On High Places, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A mountain goat and its kid stand tall against the rugged peaks of Glacier Park, their thick fur ruffled by the wind. Sunlight catches on their coats. Behind th...
Oil
Una Plaza de Valencia, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A plaza in Valencia glows under the golden hour light, its warm hues capturing the charm of early evening. Restaurants begin to stir after siesta, as locals a...
Oil
Waiting for Rain, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Joanie Ford paints a tranquil landscape where the vibrant colors of earth and sky intertwine. The winding path, bordered by delicate wildflowers, guides ...
Pastel
The Perfect Dress, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A young woman pauses before a Paris dress shop window, captivated by the display. Her posture mirrors the mannequin, suggesting a moment of discovery or connect...
Oil
Cloudy Sky, Cotswolds, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The rolling Cotswold hills in England blend with the misty sky. Painted with a brush and palette knife, the rich strokes capture the depth and lushness of the f...
Acrylic
Blue Ridge Mountains Farm, Oil Painting
By Doug Cosbie
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This painting depicts the rustic log houses populating the starting point of the Blue Ridge Trail, stretching from Southern Pennsylvania to Georgia. The satur...
Oil
The Road Ahead, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
The painting breathes like a meditation on motion and stillness. That crimson semi—its presence isn't just seen but absorbed, the thick acrylic ridges of the grille inviting your f...
Acrylic
Memories of the Lake, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
This painting invites you into a rare moment of stillness—a golden-hour meditation where the world softens into amber light. The '52 Chevy Bel Air reclines effortlessly, its chocol...
Acrylic
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
Going Home, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
The painting hums with an unexpected serenity—a sacred pause within childhood's chaos. Sunlight doesn't just bleach the dunes; it dissolves them into golden mist, softening edges until the world feels held in amber. The galvanized tub...
Acrylic
Sunset over snow-capped mountains, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Landscape of Auvergne, in the very heart of France. This cornice path, overlooking a deep valley, offers an exceptional view of the Mezenc massif. It winds its way between the dee...
Oil
Coast of Galicia, Before the Rain, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
The coasts of Galicia, Spain. In this work, I sought to capture the imposing force and raw beauty of the Galician coast just before the arrival of a rain shower. The inexorable ap...
Oil
Brittany, rocks, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Brittany, France Brittany, the eternal muse of artists, continues to inspire me with its wild and untamed beauty. The interdependence of the elements is fascinating. The water, ro...
Oil
Riviera - Cote d'Azur Frankreich original vintage travel poster
Located in Spokane, WA
Original vintage travel poster to the French Riveria, the Cote D'Azur. Linen-backed lithograph created by the artist Roger Bezombes, for the French National Railways. A small Fr...
Lithograph
"Bridge Over the Neckar, Town of Heidelberg" - Original Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Soquel, CA
"Bridge Over the Neckar, Town of Heidelberg" - Original Oil Painting on Canvas A beautiful German landscape, by American painter, Betty Brenner (1922-2016), captures the Karl Theodor Bridge and its reflection. Commonly known as the Old Bridge (Alte Brücke), it is an arch bridge in Heidelberg that crosses the Neckar river. It connects the Old City with the eastern part of the Neuenheim district of the city on the opposite bank. The current bridge, made of Neckar sandstone and the ninth built on the site, was constructed in 1788 by Elector Charles Theodore, and is one of the best-known landmarks and tourist destinations in Heidelberg. Brenner, Betty (American, 1922-2016) - Raised in Washington, Brenner attended Cornish School...
Canvas, Oil
Glendalough Cemetery, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
As low-lying clouds blanket the surrounding hills, artist Onelio Marrero captures the tranquil allure of the Glendalough Monastery in Ireland on a rainy day. ...
Oil
Brittany, coastal stream, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Cap Sizun, Brittany, France. Cap Sizun offers a spectacular landscape of rugged coasts and steep cliffs plunging directly into the Atlantic. In this painting, I have tried to capt...
Oil
Beach at Low Tide, Morning Glow, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Landscape of Brittany, France In this painting, I sought to capture the vibrant light of the Finistère coast on a beautiful summer day. The shimmering sea beneath the blue sky do...
Oil
September 1st, Wind over the MÃCzenc Massif, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Landscape of Auvergne, in the very heart of France. That day, on the Mézenc massif, I was seized by the breath of the wind. The vast sky was a theater of moving clouds, allowing ...
Oil
June 24, summer light, Velay Mountains, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Landscape of Auvergne, France. Wandering the mountains of Velay is my way of living my art. From my studio, anchored in the heart of these landscapes, I set out in search of the l...
Oil
First Tracks, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
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...
Watercolor
Ocean No. 6, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Waves crash onto the shore of the Central California Coast. Soft purple hues from the distant hills create a beautiful backdrop against the sun-kissed cliffs,...
Oil
Old Log Barns near Harpers Ferry WV, Oil Painting
By Doug Cosbie
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Weathered barns stand quietly under a bright, open sky, their faded wood telling stories of time and use. Overgrown grass softens the worn edges of the structur...
Oil
Playa en Mexico, Original Painting
By David Forks
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Gentle waves roll onto a sandy shore beneath a cloud-filled sky. Soft, impressionistic brushstrokes blend cool blues, greens, and grays, creating a serene, atmo...
Acrylic
Near the Wharf, Original Painting
By Judy Mudd
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A bustling street brims with life as people stroll past rows of brick buildings adorned with elegant architectural details. The painting captures the essence of...
Watercolor
Take a Break Too, Oil Painting
By David Thelen
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Set against the sleek lines of a modern cafe, this piece captures the quiet humanity behind the counter. The barista—mid-sip or lost in thought—becomes a fi...
Oil
Misty Morning at the Lake, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A morning fog blankets the lake, bathed in the soft red-pink glow of the first dawn. Light floods the sky, casting the shadowed trees in silhouette. Reflections...
Acrylic
Oak and Stone, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
North Carolina boasts many beautiful rivers. The scene, set in late summer, highlights the early blush of fall and its reflections in the water. The sunlight ...
Acrylic
Golden Flow
Located in Zofingen, AG
Golden Flow is a meditation on calm movement and quiet balance. It evokes a coastal memory without describing a specific place. This painting does not dominate a space; instead, it ...
Canvas, Oil
The Vinedresser's Cottage, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A vineyard leads to a rustic cottage nestled among lush trees. Sunlight filters through the branches, casting dappled shadows onto the winding path. The soft an...
Watercolor
Unveiling the Light, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The sun emerges from behind a veil of clouds as pastel hues fill the sky, reflecting softly on the calm sea below. As demonstrated by this scene, artist Joanie ...
Oil
Children on a Jetty, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero and his wife enjoy having a home near the New Jersey shore, where they can spend time with family on the beach. Onelio especially loves wa...
Oil
Morning Reflections, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
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...
Oil