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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A sparrow perches on a snow-dusted branch. The soft and misty background highlights the delicate brown and white of the bird's feathers. Artist Joanie Ford pa...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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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...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
1990s Impressionist More Art
Oil, Cardboard
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Artist Siyuan Ma presents an impressionist depiction of the Hanging Temple, a famous cultural landmark in China. Its Chinese name takes the character "Xuan" f...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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Bright green trees sway gently under a clear blue sky, their leaves suggested by quick, expressive brushstrokes. A lavender field in the distance adds a soft ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Canvas
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Soft hues of green and brown blend together in a serene wetland scene. Lilies float gently on the calm river, while clusters of bushes and grasses thrive alon...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil
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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,...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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This painting depicts the Rockaway River in Boonton, New Jersey, on a mid-winter day. It shows several cascades where the river narrows into a gorge along its...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Pedestrians stroll through the streets of downtown Chicago, passing the iconic lion statues at the Art Institute of Chicago. Autumn hues fill the scene as tal...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
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Artist Lisa Elley paints a kaleidoscopic autumnal landscape, vibrant with spirited flecks from her palette knife. Using her signature style, Lisa applies impasto trees with thick texture and gentle movement. The foliage sways with energy, suggesting a beautiful fall day in the mountains with the colorful changing leaves on display.
About the Artist
Artist Lisa Elley produces sweeping impressionist views and rich geographies with lush textures. Growing up on a little farm in New Zealand surrounded by rolling green, she became greatly influenced by her surroundings. This instilled a remarkable ingenuity in her leading her to pursue a fine arts degree at the University of Auckland. Passionate about experiencing new things, she moved to London, New York, Florida, and ultimately the San Francisco Bay Area, where she now resides. She works at her studio inside an old cannery in San Jose with perfect natural light, 30-foot ceilings, and infinite possibilities. She cultivates her skillful command with a palette that allows her to maneuver her artistic blade with fluidity. “I am drawn to them over brushes as they create an amazing sense of movement with the beautiful texture they evoke,†shares Lisa. An award-winning artist, her works have been represented by galleries all over the globe and have also been featured in distinguished publications. Lisa savors the quality time she spends with her family during her free time.
Words that describe this painting: autumn, forest...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil Pastel
Mid-20th Century Impressionist More Art
Masonite, Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil, Wood Panel
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Artist Nava Lundy paints a young girl flying a bright yellow kite on a cloudy day. The impasto texture of the ethereal sky builds atmospheric depth. Nava aptl...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A bird of paradise charms with its beauty. Its fiery petals contrast vividly with the lush green leaves. Inspired by her photograph taken during a stroll in S...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Magic, hidden beauty, a secret story, or brambles tangled along the stream. These repeated but varied patterns of chaos, reflected in the water, resemble an i...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A small patch of reeds line the edge of a pond, catching the sun early in the morning. Their golden blades contrast with the deep greens of the surrounding tr...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A lighthouse stands on a grassy point, overlooking the tranquil waters of Admiralty Inlet. Its sturdy white walls and vibrant red roofs contrast with the blue...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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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...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Ruth LaGue presents an impressionist black barn with a prominent pink roof. Inspired by the shapes and patterns of the landscape, she draws the viewer'...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Vibrant dainty flowers burst from a colorful vase, filling the scene with an explosion of pinks, purples, and greens. The deep blue background brings out the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil, Panel
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Low clouds stretch across the evening sky and mirror perfectly on the lake's surface. Shades of purple and blue deepen into gray, signaling the arrival of night...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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The sky shines a brilliant blue on these rare warm January days. Sunlight bathes the landscape, casting shadows from the trees. Patches of golden grass peek thr...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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"Every fall season, I embark on a sojourn to the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains to soak in the changing fall colors of the birch and quaking aspens," says ar...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Sunlight filters through the dense leaves, casting dappled shadows on an allée. The trees form a natural corridor, leading deeper to the tranquil trail. Painted with a brush and palette knife, the scene's warm palette and rich texture evoke the soothing essence of a summer day.
About the Artist
Artist Janet Dyer...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Faye Vander Veer presents an old white shingled farmhouse with a tin roof. The piece evokes a strong sense of nostalgia that reminds of simpler times b...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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In her impressionist rendition, artist Lisa Elley portrays Claude Monet's iconic residence in Giverny, France, using a palette kni...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero paints a group of children blissfully swimming along the beach. He often visits the seashore during the summer months, and this painting...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
The bright morning sunshine floods a front porch where an inviting scene unfolds. Artist Sherri Aldawood was drawn to the light and cast shadows on this historic adobe home in Taos, New Mexico. The two turquoise chairs add to the scene's charm and beckon the viewer to relax and enjoy the peaceful ambiance of the moment.
About the Artist
Sherri Aldawood didn't intend to always paint flowers, but over time her love of gardens started to permeate her art. She focuses on the light and color of the flowers on the canvas. Sherri prefers alla prima, working with wet layers of paint instead of letting them dry. She keeps the paint as wet as possible by using walnut and clove oil...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
1960s Impressionist More Art
Stone, Bronze
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Artist Onelio Marrero pictures a flock of ducks gliding by a serene stream. "I observed ducks on the Rockaway River near my home to paint this scene," shares ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Light and shadow play harmoniously in the courtyard of Museo de Bellas Artes in Seville, Spain. Foliage basks in the sun, while the fountain stays cool in the...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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 ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Bright strokes of green highlight a sun-baked landscape in Provence, France. The winding path stretches through the summer field. Energetic dabs of a palette knife create texture and depth. The sky, painted in a rich blue, contrasts with the greenery, giving the painting a lively and dynamic feel.
About the Artist
Artist Janet Dyer...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
White blossoming trees grace an orchard in Provence, France. Painted with a brush and palette knife, the composition conveys their fleeting beauty. Their flow...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
19th Century Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Linen, Panel
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Artist Stanislav Sidorov exhibits colorful umbrellas spread along the busy streets of New York. A bright display of hues parades along the streets amidst wate...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Carey Parks depicts three kids standing outside a suburban neighborhood. She uses an old family photo to capture the essence...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Winding trunks weave through dense foliage, depicting an overgrown forest. Hints of the sky peek through the vegetation, introducing new hues to the dominant ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Janet Dyer shows a stand of trees on a winter landscape. Earthy tones provide a contrast to the sheets of white. "I never know when I'll happen on some...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
1910s Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Elizabeth Garat has always felt an affinity with trees. She came upon this view on a long walk during the golden hour in Ashland, Oregon. A gentle bree...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Set during an evening on Wacker Drive, the artwork offers an atmospheric view of Chicago, featuring the iconic Tribune Tower and surrounding buildings. The st...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Provence in spring is a delightful place to be. Olive trees bloom, cypresses sway gently in the breeze, and the sun casts a warm glow over the landscape. Pain...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Mallard ducks cast their reflections on the swiftly moving water, with a pair gracefully gliding near a third one perched on a log. Dynamic brushwork and pale...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Late 19th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
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
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An aerial view reveals a picturesque landscape of the South of France, with verdant greenery and farmland hugging a winding switchback road. While a zigzag pa...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A serene lake reflects the blue sky and surrounding trees on its still surface. The foliage portrays the changing season, from the bright summer day to cool a...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
1930s Impressionist More Art
Paper, Etching
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Artist Elizabeth Garat paints an inspiring view of the California coast. She references the piece on scenes from an expedition to the beautiful coastal town of Cayucos, California. The stately tree stands alone in the surrounding field, capturing the viewer's attention. Elizabeth fully offers the tranquility of the quiet view.
About the Artist
Growing up in California and Colorado, Elizabeth spent much of her formative years outdoors. “Exposure to nature early on planted the seed of landscape painting in me,†she says. She enjoyed spending time on her grandfather’s sunny sheep ranch and going to the beach with her grandmother. Her grandmother also would bring her to art galleries in Laguna Beach, where she was first introduced to California Impressionism...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
"I worked to expound upon the beauty of magnificent colors at dusk," says artist Mary Pratt. In this painting, she captures the breathtaking backwater sunset...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
