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.
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Artist Comments
Golden sunlight bathes the Harriman State Park with a warm glow. Fiery colors cast over the slender trees and vast field. Painted with brush and palette knife, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A silhouette of a single Monterey pine basks in the glow and soft light of the setting sun. The lavender surface of the ocean reflects the radiant sky. California-based artist Catherine McCargar loves taking painting trips to the coast. In this piece, she painted on Moonstone Beach in Cambria.
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: coastal, ocean, California, seaside, beach, path, sunset, tree, summer, sky, nature, grass, vacation, season, impressionism, nature, seascape, watercolor painting, blue
Coastal Summer Sunset...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
Mid-20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Linen
Artist Comments
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
2010s Impressionist More Art
Gesso, Canvas, Paper, Acrylic Polymer, Acrylic
19th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Golds, reds, and plums capture the brilliance of fall at Coot Lake in Colorado. The water mirrors its surroundings, reflecting billowing clouds and distant moun...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Two figures stand near an open doorway of a rustic house. The summer sun casts bright light and soft shadows onto the scene. Artist Patty Phan depicts her Europ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A serene alpine lake in Crested Butte is the epitome of summer in Colorado. Towering pine trees line the water's edge, their green leaves contrasting with the bright sky and billowing clouds. A sunlit, rocky shoreline adds warmth to the scene.
About the Artist
Artist Patty Phan captures the beauty of Colorado’s landscapes in her impressionist watercolor painting...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A still lake reflects the trees, rocks, and surrounding mountains. The lakebed shows through the clear water, adding depth to the scene. The blend of golds and ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Panel, Wood Panel
1990s Impressionist More Art
Oil, Cardboard
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Linen, Oil
2010s Impressionist More Art
Oil, Cardboard
1880s Impressionist More Art
Lithograph
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil, Board
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil, Panel
Artist Comments
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
Artist Comments
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
Artist Comments
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
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
In 2023, artist Onelio Marrero began a series of oil sketches featuring men painting buildings high above city sidewalks. Inspired by one, this piece captures...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A server, momentarily distracted from her duties, gazes at her phone, waiting for an important text. Though the setting suggests she should be peeling potatoe...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
1970s Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Linen, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Small birds perch on a wire beneath a crescent moon. The subtle rose gold leaf applied to the animals adds shimmer and creates a striking focal point. The tit...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Impressionist More Art
Paper, Gouache
1920s Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Panel, Wood Panel
1980s Impressionist More Art
Oil, Cardboard
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A young boy walks his dog along a path near a beach in France. Impressionistic strokes add movement and energy to the foliage. The bright summer sun bathes the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Quaint houses line a quiet alleyway, where overgrown weeds and trees bring a sense of life. Warm tones and impressionistic strokes add charm throughout. In this...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Various shades of green hint at an abstract landscape. It depicts a marsh with scattered pools that reflect the colors of the sky. Artist Janet Dyer painted the...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A peaceful bay stretches along an Irish countryside, where the hills slope down to meet the soft curve of the shore. Bold strokes and earthy colors capture the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A field stretches across the Warwick countryside, echoing the vastness of the sky above. The clouds add softness to the scene. Rich reds and browns fill the for...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Two women dressed in vintage attire appear to be in conversation in the middle of a vineyard. Long, warm shadows give depth and dimension to the scene. The calm...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Panel, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
The rising sun bathes a high desert with warm, golden light. Soft, purple shadows mingle with the vibrant yellow and orange hues of the rabbitbrush. The abstr...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
The afternoon sun brings out the magical colors of fall. Yellows and oranges blend, fading gracefully among the trees. The river reflects its surroundings, he...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
1980s Impressionist More Art
Lithograph
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil Pastel
Mid-20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Paper, Oil
Artist Comments
A small pond witnesses an evolving scenery. Initially devoid of houses, it now features a few nestled among the trees yet retains patches of woodland. The com...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Late 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil, Wood Panel
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Vibrant tropical scenes greet hikers at every turn in the Florida hiking preserves. Under the summer sun, tall and majestic longleaf pines provide ample shade...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
In the scenic beauty of Ontonagon River, Paulding, Michigan, a tranquil scene unfolds. The sun bathes the rocks and trees in the full radiance of summer, whil...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Grass, bushes, and trees form a picturesque setting for a rivulet that subtly joins a stream. Varied brushstrokes capture the nuances of their forms and textu...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
On a late morning, a hiking trail welcomes the warmth of the sun. Palm and oak trees provide comforting shades along the way, while the treetops capture the f...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
