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.
Marbella Alley, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Sherri Aldawood captures a peaceful moment from her trip to Marbella, Spain. Sunlight fills a narrow alleyway, adorned with vibrant flowers and lush pl...
Oil
Wacker Drive in the Rain, Oil Painting
By Yangzi Xu
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A street in Chicago comes alive on a rainy afternoon. The wet pavement reflects the city lights, creating a shimmering effect as cars and pedestrians move thr...
Oil
Unveiling the Light, Oil Painting
By Joanie Ford
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
Country Stroll, Original Painting
By Patty Phan
Located in San Francisco, CA
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...
Watercolor
'River Birch' by James Cobb, Framed 20" x 16" Oil on Canvas Painting, 2020
By Jim Cobb
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This framed 19.875" x 16" oil painting on canvas by Oklahoma-based artist James Cobb depicts a strand of river birch trees in freshly fallen snow. at the he...
Canvas, Oil
Warm evening, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
This painting depicts a landscape at sunset. The artwork features vibrant colors such as yellow, orange, pink, and blue, creating a dramatic and colorful sky filled with clouds. The ...
Oil
Butterfly Beach #2, Painting, Watercolor on Paper
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air watercolor of Butterfly Beach in Montecito, California. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist ...
Watercolor
Plein Air Forest-Side, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
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...
Oil
Evening at Teton National Park, Oil Painting
By Steve Boggs
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Mountains rise with an imposing presence, dominating the evening landscape of Teton National Park. A vibrant treeline in the foreground glows with rich autumn h...
Oil
In Toquima Cave, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A beautiful bobcat rests atop the petroglyph-covered wall of Toquima Cave. Its stance and intense gaze reflect a keen awareness. Lights emphasize the feline's...
Oil
The Meeting, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A forest, painted in deep brown, creates a mysterious atmosphere late in the day. The bright yellow sky casts a golden glow onto the wildflowers in the foregr...
Oil
Field with Dappled Sunlight, Giverny
By John Leslie Breck
Located in Milford, NH
A fine impressionist painting of a French pastoral landscape with trees and cows in the distance by American artist John Leslie Breck (1860-1899). Breck was born in the South Pacific...
Oil, Canvas
Portrait of Princess Wilhelmina - 23-08-24, Drawing, Pastels on Paper
By Corne Akkers
Located in Yardley, PA
Portrait of Princess Wilhelmina (Tribute to Thérèse Schwartze) - 23-08-24 A Great Independant Female Artist This pastel drawing ‘Portrait of Princess Wilhelmina (Tribute to...
Pastel
Thunder, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
"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...
Oil
Green Garage Doors, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A single-car garage in a charming neighborhood stands untouched, its doors unopened for years. Once home to a shiny '32 Oldsmobile, it now hides unknown treas...
Oil
Early Twentieth Century Impressionist Landscape of Autumn with Golden Trees
Located in ludlow, GB
Early Twentieth Century Impressionist Landscape of Trees in a Wooded Landscape in Autumn with gold and rust coloured Leaves. This Impressionistic Unsigned Oil Painting on Canvas is ...
Oil
Twentieth Century Traditional Figurative Portrait Oil of Lady in Victorian Dress
Located in ludlow, GB
Twentieth Century Traditional style Figurative Portrait Oil Painting on Canvas of Lady in a Victorian Dress. Beautiful Model in a white Victorian Gown wearing elegant gloves and looking pensive. Beautifully modelled and featuring Helen as the model who worked with the artist in the late 1980's. RENE JEROME LEGRAND British born 1953 Rene Legrand...
Oil
Colorful Water Lily, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By Hoang Phuong
Located in Yardley, PA
Colorful Water Lily Welcome to the beautiful artwork titled **"Colorful Water Lily"**! This painting is not only a picture of nature but also a symphony of colors, bringing freshn...
Acrylic
Contemporary Figurative Impressionist Textured Oil Painting of Children on Beach
Located in ludlow, GB
Modern Impressionist Oil Painting on Canvas of Children playing by the Seaside on a Sandy Beach. It is mounted on stretchers and Signed and Framed. Framed in a simple distressed whit...
Oil
Sedona Trail, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A trail near Sedona’s airport reveals striking red rock formations and distant mesas. Gnarled trees scatter along the path, evoking a desert landscape that ...
Acrylic
White Water Lilies, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
This oil painting White Water Lilies portrays the beauty of lily pads on the surface of a pond. The combination of vibrant colors, thick brushstrokes, and the play of light and shado...
Oil
Water pond, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
The painting depicts a landscape setting featuring a water pond surrounded by dense woodland. Water lilies are floating on the pond. The atmosphere of the painting is tranquil, sug...
Oil
Twilight Solitude, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Twilight Solitude depicts the serene beauty of Florida's Nature Coast. The golden sunset bathes the marsh in a warm, radiant glow, creating a tranquil atmosphere. The purple clouds o...
Acrylic
Modern Impressionist Textured Framed Oil Painting of Ballet Dancer in Swan Lake
Located in ludlow, GB
Modern Impressionist Textured Oil Painting of Ballet Dancer performing in Swan Lake. A signed oil on canvas on stretchers and framed in a traditional frame. This beautiful painting ...
Oil
Red Sky at Night..., Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
While driving west on Bahia Vista Road in Florida, artist Benjamin Thomas, his wife, and their dog, Gaia, noticed the sky turning into a breathtaking display...
Acrylic
Fall Evening Current, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Shaded water carries streaks of gold and orange reflected from the sunlit hills of Redstone, Colorado. The current flows around clusters of stones, breaking int...
Oil
Uphill Path, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This painting captures a serene Mediterranean landscape featuring an uphill path leading to a distant house. The summer sun brightens up the lush field under ...
Acrylic
Life in the Mountains, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Bright colors dominate a landscape featuring rolling hills and tall trees under a vibrant sky. A pathway winds through a field, leading towards mountains in the distance. :: Paint...
Oil
Feast for the Eyes, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
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...
Oil
Magic of the Moon, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
This mesmerizing artwork captures the serene beauty of a nocturnal landscape, masterfully painted with rich, textured brushstrokes. The luminous full moon casts a silvery glow across...
Oil
Four Roses, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This still-life painting features roses in a clear glass vase. The flowers' velvety red hues contrast beautifully with their green stems, making them stand ou...
Acrylic
Poppies in rain, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
The image depicts a vibrant and dramatic landscape oil painting featuring a field of bright red poppies at the forefront, stretching towards a distant mountain range. This range is p...
Oil
The Artist's Wife, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
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...
Oil
Cherry Blossom Waltz, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Angie Wright
Located in Yardley, PA
Cherry Blossom Waltz, oil on canvas, 170 x 110 cm Pink petals swirl and dance across the canvas in Cherry Blossom Waltz, a bold, textured celebration of spring’s fleeting beauty...
Oil
Modern Figurative Impressionist Oil Painting of Flamenco Dancer (The Temptress)
Located in ludlow, GB
Modern Figurative Impressionist Oil Painting of Flamenco Dancer (The Temptress). A Large Oil Study of a Flamenco Dancer striking three different poses. This Oil Painting produced a ...
Oil
Bouquet, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Carey Parks presents an impressionist still life of dainty flowers on a glass cylinder. Taking a small bunch from a large bo...
Acrylic
"Evening city", Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original Oil painting by Ukrainian artist Evgeny Chernyakovsky "Evening city" 50.0 X 70.0 CM / 19.6 X 27.4 IN HIGH QUALITY oil on canvas Signed on the front and back Dated 202...
Oil
Winter Landscape with Trees
Located in Milford, NH
A fine colorful New England winter landscape with trees and a snow covered stone wall by American artist William Lester Stevens (1888-1969).Born in Rockport, Massachusetts, Stevens f...
Canvas, Oil
Midnight garden symphony, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
This abstract floral painting bursts with vibrant energy and color. The composition is a dynamic array of deep blues, greens, and dark tones, suggesting a lush garden scene. Interspe...
Acrylic
Quiet Harbor, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original Oil painting by Ukrainian artist Evgeny Chernyakovsky "Quiet Harbor" 90.0 X 70.0 CM / 35.4 X 27.5 IN HIGH QUALITY oil on canvas Signed on the front and back Dated 2...
Oil
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
Morning Silence in the City, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original oil painting that expresses an intimate moment. This piece evokes serenity, warmth, and the poetry of everyday moments using textured brushstrokes and delicate palette. ...
Oil
The Slumber Party, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero paints an endearing moment of two young girls having a slumber party. They are reading in a dimly lit room,...
Oil
Coastal scene, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
The painting depicts a tranquil coastal scene. Two sailboats with white sails are floating on a calm sea. One sailboat is situated closer to the foreground, on the left of the image,...
Oil
Spring Song, Painting, Watercolor on Paper
Located in Yardley, PA
Spring Song Watercolor Art size - 10"x14" Matted - 20"x16" A symphony of spring blooms, dancing in watercolor warmth and shimmering with metallic gold accents. Spring Song capt...
Watercolor
Morning in the Marina, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A small white boat floats along the edge of a dock in artist Andres Lopez's impressionist seascape. The calm crystalline waters mirror the refreshing coastal ...
Oil
Bay of dreams, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
"Bay of dreams" captures the enchanting beauty of Stoliv, a historic town in the breathtaking Kotor Bay, Montenegro. This impressionist painting radiates warmth and movement, as the ...
Oil
The Doll and the Rose Still Life Oil Painting c.1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
The Doll and the Rose Still Life Oil Painting c.1930 Wonderful oil on canvas by a talented artist. The painting is signed in the lower r...
Canvas, Oil
Pink Water Lilies, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
An original oil painting titled Pink Water Lilies, inspired by the calm beauty of a blooming lily pond. I used both a palette knife and brush to create bold impasto texture for the f...
Oil
Island View, Painting, Watercolor on Paper
Located in Yardley, PA
Island View Watercolor Art size - 8"x6" Matted to fit in standard 8"x10" frame :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity...
Watercolor
Counting on You, Oil Painting
By Judy Mackey
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A turquoise vase resting on a blue table holds a cluster of pink flowers. Thick palette knife strokes build texture across the bright petals and muted backgroun...
Oil
Afternoon Trees 241125, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Don Bishop
Located in Yardley, PA
Afternoon Trees 241125 is a contemporary tonal landscape painting with nice light and atmosphere. This painting is part of my Tonal Landscapes series which are landscapes with a focu...
Oil
White Jockey, Oil Painting
By Judy Mackey
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Bold strokes capture a partially nude woman against a deep, muted background. Artist Judy Mackey uses minimal detail, intentionally leaving the face blank to ...
Oil
"Evening in Italy", Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original Oil painting by Ukrainian artist Evgeny Chernyakovsky "Evening in Italy" 50.0 X 70.0 CM / 19.6 X 27.4 IN HIGH QUALITY oil on canvas Signed on the front and back Dated...
Oil
Tulip fields 2025, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
This is an oil painting showcasing a vibrant scene of fields filled with tulips. The scene includes three brick houses with orange roofs, situated beyond the fields and bordered by a...
Oil
"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
Roman symphony, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Rome painting jriginal oil. St. Peter’s basilica. Vatican bridge. Tiber river. Impressionist artwork by Andrii Chebotaru - "Roman symphony" captures the timeless elegance of Rome...
Oil
Contemporary Impressionist Oil Beach Scene of Children playing at the Seaside
Located in ludlow, GB
Modern Impressionist Oil Painting of a Beach Scene of Children playing at the Seaside on Sandy Beach. Children playing with their fishing nets and buckets and spades exploring the rockpools and building sandcastles, what a really wonderful way to spend the day! A textured Oil on canvas by this listed and well known British Impressionist Painter. He is particularly famous for his unique textured canvases. This he achieves by painting first on a brushed and primed canvas and then layering on Oil Paint and Glazes. The overall effect is stunning luminosity of colour and an almost pointillist effect that is perfectly unique to this artist. "The Green Net" oil on canvas, signed and framed by Rene Jerome...
Oil
Karavostasi beach, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty of "Karavostasi Beach," an original oil painting that captures a serene seascape. A small red boat bobs gently in the center of a vividly blue...
Oil
Poppies 8, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
An oil painting depicting a cluster of five red poppies as the focal point against a background of intertwined light brown, dark brown, brown, orange, red, and black hues. The poppie...
Oil