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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Soft evening colors highlight the beauty of the American desert. A gentle and warm palette creates an airy feeling that suggests an open space. The quiet energy...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A cluster of farm structures nestles within a vast green field. Scattered figures add subtle life and context without disrupting the calm atmosphere, enhancing ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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Artist Onelio Marrero often spends time with his family at the New Jersey shore. In this painting, groups of children strategize and work diligently digging f...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Daisies, lupines, and poppies bloom near the ocean as waves crash along the rugged California coastline. Bold palette knife strokes add movement, depth, and tex...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Golden mustard flowers blanket the field, illuminated by shimmering light that enhances the energy of the spring landscape. Wisps of clouds drift above, while...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
1930s Impressionist More Art
Paper, Etching
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A cardinal perches on a thin wire, its bright red plumage standing out against the gray sky. The bird seems like a visitor from another realm, briefly passing...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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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...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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The first morning light stretches across the lake at Wind River, Wyoming. As the sky brightens, the woods remain shadowed, and the world slowly wakes. A crisp c...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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Artist Joanie Ford captures a cloudy day with sailboats docked in a quiet port. The overcast sky sets a moody tone, with its muted colors mirrored in the stil...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
1950s Impressionist More Art
Lithograph
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Bright red poppies stretch across an endless field, their fading details adding depth to the scene. Soft purple mountains rise in the distance under a serene ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Board
Artist Comments
A woman stands with her back to the viewer, gracefully adjusting her raven hair. She wears a flowing red dress that contrasts beautifully with the soft backgrou...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Lush green lily pads and pink water lilies float calmly on a pond. Gentle ripples reflect the early morning sunlight, with the mist adding to the glow. Painte...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Under the glow of a lamp, a venerable professor attentively reads and evaluates student submissions. The composition is one of artist Onelio Marrero's many port...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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High stone seawalls line parts of the New Jersey shoreline, where tides and surges deposit an array of natural and manmade artifacts. In this scene, a young gir...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Bathed in the hush of twilight, rows of blooming lavender stretch endlessly beneath a sky brushed with fading light. Each bold, textured stroke captures the fle...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Colorful flowers spill from a pitcher, with lush green foliage serving as the backdrop. The quick, energetic brushstrokes capture the rapidly changing light. ...
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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Artist Joanie Fords captures the beauty of Tucson, Arizona in this pastel artwork. Soft, glowing light filters through the terrain, contrasting the lush green c...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Pastel
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Autumn foliage surrounds a peaceful mountain landscape. Tall birch trees line the scene, their white trunks contras...
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Oil
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Growing up in Minnesota, artist Joanie Ford loved the winter days, ice fishing, and when snow blanketed the trees. This oil painting reflects her fond memorie...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
1990s Impressionist More Art
Oil, Cardboard
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With its signature yellow wings edged in black and touched with hints of coral and sky blue, a swallowtail butterfly appears suspended mid-air. Its symmetry a...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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The sky and clouds can be unpredictable, offering no certain forecast for the weather ahead. A gathering of dark clouds may hint at rain or a refreshing cooln...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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As night approaches, the colors of the sky reflect on the pond, with the silhouette of trees filtering the fiery sunset. Water lilies pick up different hues a...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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The soothing rhythm of the ocean's waves creates a sense of tranquil stillness. Beyond the shore, a beautiful gradient of blues captures the essence of the deep...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
2010s Impressionist More Art
Oil, Panel
20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Judy Mackey paints an impressionist still life of a bright red daisy in a vase. "I happened on a Gerber Daisy that had a bro...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A charming bungalow in Cape May, New Jersey, nestles among lush greenery. Its warm yellow and green tones blend harmoniously with the surrounding foliage. Pai...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Inspired by his travels with his wife, artist Onelio Marrero paints her enjoying a book. They toured the neighboring towns to visit shops and historic sites d...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Gouache
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A lush woodland scene embodies the tranquil beauty of nature. Towering trees with dappled sunlight filtering through their leafy canopies cast soft shadows on t...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Bright wildflowers bloom in the foreground while the waves crash against the cliffs in the distance. The sky, painted in soft blues and whites, merges seamles...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil, Panel
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Three young dancers style their hair, racing against time before a show. The vibrant brushwork and colors portray the lively and intense energy of dance prepa...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Robust trees cast a dense shade over the ground while the bright sun shines over the meadow beyond. The interplay between light and shadow shows depth and dra...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
19th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
I painted this piece from sketches I did from a small Eastern European town. The old buildings and houses are highlighted through amazing texture.
Abou...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A barn quietly sits in the picturesque Pennsylvania countryside. The muted color palette evokes the serene tranquility inherent in the Amish homesteads of the...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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This painting combines two of artist Onelio Marrero's interests: his love for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and his fascination with observi...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A woman in a flowing white gown stands confidently against a background that blends almost seamlessly with her attire. She symbolizes purity and strength. The...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Golden light filters through the forest canopy, casting dappled shadows along a winding path. Leaves transform into shades of orange, celebrating nature’s f...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil, Panel
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Palm and oak trees create a vibrant forest scene. The sun filters through the foliage and casts dappled light on the ground. Bright reds and yellows highlight...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Two kids play at a beach in California. The boy pours sand into a green bucket while the girl sits beside him, both deeply engrossed in their play. The bright...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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New Jersey artist Brian McCarthy grew up in a rural area near the New York border, where grazing animals were a common sight. In this oil painting, he capture...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Breathtaking sunset reflects off a cloud-filled sky in Australia, creating a color-filled landscape. Below, a road cuts through a field and leads to a distant...
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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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...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Lisa Elley's signature impasto trees stand tall with thick texture and gentle movement in the foliage. The colorful changing leaves contrast against th...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Warren Keating captures two figures in motion as they navigate the vibrant setting of Art Basel. Broad, expressive brushstrokes convey movement and flu...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
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
