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.
Come Away with Me, Original Painting
By Nava Lundy
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A gate stands on a sand, opening onto the sea and an endless blue horizon. Painted in acrylic with expressive, textured brushwork, the composition balances moti...
Acrylic
Bucolic Valley, Oil Painting
By Mandy Main
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A vibrant, loosely rendered landscape captures a serene and expansive rural scene. In the foreground, bright green fields with varied shading create depth and t...
Oil
Southern Landscape
Located in Milford, NH
A fine gouache painting of a Southern landscape by American artist Beatrice Lavis Cuming (1903-1975). Cuming was born in Brooklyn, NY, studied lo...
Paper, Gouache
Goldie, Original Painting
By Sally Adams
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A yellow bird with a black crown and wings perches on a branch. Speckled paint splatters on the white background add balance to the composition. Sally Adams' ...
Watercolor
Sunny Marmaris, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING ON CANVAS IMPRESSIONIST WALL ART WORK Sunny artwork / Turkish seascape painting / impasto painting / handmade oil painting - "Sunny Marmaris" – A glimpse ...
Oil
White dance, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING ON CANVAS White dance – Original iris painting – White flowers – Impressionist floral art – Oil on canvas – Garden wall decor - “White danceâ€
Oil
Melody of ?olor, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING ON CANVAS IMPRESSIONIST WALL ART WORK irises artwork / still life painting / impasto painting / handmade oil painting - Melody of ?olor is a vibrant impress...
Oil
Melody of water, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Lake landscape oil painting Ukrainian art Original impressionist artwork Blue green nature scene Wall decor from Kyiv - Immerse yourself in the soothing harmony of nature with ...
Oil
Blue Ridge Mountains Fall Colors, Oil Painting
By Doug Cosbie
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A weathered log farmhouse stands near the start of the Blue Ridge Trail, which stretches from southern Pennsylvania to Georgia. Autumn foliage surrounds the str...
Oil
Mirror of the soul, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Lake landscape oil painting Ukrainian art Original impressionist artwork Blue green nature scene Wall decor from Kyiv - Mirror of the soul captures the quiet beauty of a Ukrain...
Oil
"Where the sky meets the water", Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original oil painting landscape, blue sky clouds wall art, nature impressionist artwork, collectible fine art from Ukraine - "Where the sky meets the water" captures the harmony of...
Oil
Mountain river, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Mountain river – Original winter oil painting from Pylypets, Carpathian Ukraine Impressionist landscape by Andrii Chebotaru - "Mountain rive...
Oil
Saint-Paul-de-Vence Village, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Warm stone buildings and terracotta rooftops rise within the village walls. The scene depicts Saint-Paul-de-Vence in the south of France, where artist Karen d'A...
Oil
$489
Mid Century French Picture Frame original Vintage Shabby Chic Grey Beige Color
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
French mid 20th century Wood and plaster frame Internal measurement (to house painting or mirror): 22 x 15 inches Overal outer measurements: 27 x 20 inches Provenance: from a collect...
Plaster, Wood
Silver of calm, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
“Silver of calmâ€
Oil
Flags Along the Avenue, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero captures a Midtown Manhattan scene in low winter afternoon light. The flags' vibrant red and blue attract attention, contrasting with the ...
Oil
$2,756
Modern Impressionist Oil painting of Ballet Dancers in Tutus Backstage
Located in ludlow, GB
Modern Impressionist oil painting of Two Ballet Dancers in Tutus backstage at the Theatre. This is a new piece from the Legrand Studio, it is Oil Paints on a square box canvas, so on...
Oil
Bushes by the Pond, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Flowering bushes bloom, and trees thrive around a quiet summer pond. Loose brushstrokes suggest the forms and movement of the greenery. The scene captures a ser...
Acrylic
Shopping in Cordoba, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Two young ladies shop in the narrow, sun-drenched streets of Cordoba, Spain. Hanging bags and garments add life and texture to the rustic building. Loose brushw...
Oil
Winter Marsh, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Winter settles in a marsh, covering a patch of land with snow. The green grass leads to distant hills. Muted sky filled with clouds stretches over the landscape...
Acrylic
Road in Pomona, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Autumn sunlight bathes a suburban setting in Hudson Valley, New York. A quiet, tree-lined road stretches forward, inviting a slow, leisurely drive through the s...
Acrylic
Summer Bouquet, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A summer bouquet rests on a marble countertop. Artist Karen d'Angeac Mihm drew inspiration from her flower subscription, whose joyful mix of colors and organic ...
Oil
Houses by Field, Provence, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Grasses and shrubs stretch diagonally across the scene, while a lush grove of tall trees rises at a distance. Small houses with red roofs sit among the foliage....
Acrylic
Forest Shadows, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original Oil painting by Ukrainian artist Alisa Onipchenko-Cherniakovska This mesmerizing artwork captures the ethereal beauty of a dense, mist-laden forest. Dominated by deep, verd...
Oil
The Garden's Upper Story, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Deep purple and red leaves stand out against a background of bright foliage. Artist Catherine McCargar, an avid gardener and watercolorist, drew inspiration fro...
Watercolor
Quiet Path, Provence, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A dirt path winds through a rural landscape lined with trees and bushes, leading toward open fields and the horizon. Loose palette knife and brushwork give the ...
Acrylic
Downhill Path, Provence, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A path winds through a farm and vineyards in Provence, France. Rows of trees stretch across the landscape, drawing the eye into the distance. Painted with both ...
Acrylic
Monet's Garden II
Located in Atlanta, GA
Claude Monet's painting of his lily pond at Giverny is transformed into this beautiful dramatic jacquard tapestry woven in Belgium. Monet painted many scenes from his home at Givern...
Tapestry
$1,800
Jade, Impressionist Pastoral Landscape Pastel Drawing on Board, Framed, 12x12
Located in Saratoga Springs, NY
This vibrant piece, "Jade", is a 12 x 12 pastel drawing on board by artist Meredith Kuntzsch. A serene pastel landscape featuring a sunlit green meadow stretching toward a line of wa...
Pastel
Girl and Flowers, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Discover an original oil painting Girl and flowers by Anastasiia Valiulina, celebrating the beauty of femininity and nature. This abstract portrait, adorned with flowers, showcases m...
Oil
$2,400
"Sea and Sky 09.26.22" contemporary impressionist seascape in custom frame NHW
By Nelson White
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
A serene plein air painting from Nelson White, featuring his recognizable impasto whitecaps. A deep blue sea meets a lilac-brown horizon, and ascends back into the blue sky, adorned ...
Oil, Panel
Friday, 3PM, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
On a September afternoon, artist Onelio Marrero noticed a boy fishing from a river weir near his home. He imagined the boy waiting all week for school to end so...
Oil
$2,500
"Bagno Artiglio 03.18.2019" small oil painting of yellow umbrella, Italian beach
By Nelson White
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Painted en plein air. Frame Dimensions 9 x 16in Artist Bio: Nelson H. White was born in New London, Connecticut in 1932. White has been surrounded by art and artists from the time he was born. He received his earliest art instruction from his grandfather, Henry Cooke White (1861-1952) and his father Nelson Cooke White (1900-1989), both important American artists. The family lived in Waterford, Connecticut and the elder White had been an early member of the art colony in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Known for his paintings of the Connecticut landscape...
Oil
Magic In Nature, Oil Painting
By Mary Pratt
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A playful interaction between shapes and colors in nature unfolds in this fantastical landscape. Two predominant areas of light create a silhouette, casting o...
Oil
Woods, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The sun filters through a grove of trees, casting cool shadows on the ground. Brown, green, and pale green trunks provide varying visual points, creating quiet ...
Acrylic
Guiding Light, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Subtle shifts of tone and softened edges give the horizon a sense of movement and breath. Rooted in artist Jenn Williamson’s quiet mornings, the painting refl...
Oil
Robin, Original Painting
By Sally Adams
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A bird perches quietly on a thin branch. Warm orange tones highlight its chest, while soft gray washes shape its wings. Sally Adams' paintings are inspired by...
Watercolor
Edge of the Woods II, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Pale yellow fields and orange-red bushes reflect the warmth of autumn in Harriman State Park, New York State. Expressive paintwork captures the movement and tex...
Acrylic
Chilly Chickadee, Original Painting
By Sally Adams
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A small bird grips a narrow branch. Loose watercolor washes define its body, while darker tones shape the head and wing. Paint splatters drift across the back...
Watercolor
Persephone's Return, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By Amy Bernays
Located in Yardley, PA
Persephone was the daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest. One day, while gathering flowers, the earth split open and Hades rose up in his chariot to seize her. He carried her t...
Acrylic
The Quiet Garden Bench, Oil Painting
By Lisa Elley
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Sunlight accentuates the quaint stone walls and shutters of an Italian house. Flowers with creeping vines create a dramatic and highly textured visual effect. P...
Oil
Coastal Summer Sunset, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
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...
Watercolor
Beckoning Sea, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Aruna Rao captures the endless rhythm of waves rolling toward the shore, reflecting the hypnotic pull of the ocean. The path through the dunes, the winds...
Oil
Walking in Nature, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A woman walks along a narrow trail. Bushes on either side guide the eye and soften the bright sunlight. Artist Carey Parks captures this serene moment along the...
Acrylic
Cactus Apples, Oil Painting
By Mandy Main
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A quiet desert vista in Joshua Tree National Park basks in cool afternoon light. In the foreground, a cluster of prickly pear cacti with soft blue-green pads, t...
Oil
Cholla Cactus, Oil Painting
By Mandy Main
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
As the sun sets behind the Joshua Tree Cholla Garden, the backlit plants glow with halos as their fine, bristling spines catch the light, both delicate and unto...
Oil
Second Cascade at Boonton, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero captures the river running through his hometown. The foaming cascade and gentle ripples in the pooled water beyond the boulders convey a s...
Oil
Cafes in Portugal, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
While walking the Camino de Santiago, artist Jonelle Summerfield arrived in Vila Nova de Cerveira and paused, unsure which direction to take. Though tired from ...
Oil
Manarola. Cinque Terre Italy, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
This artwork vividly captures a picturesque Mediterranean coastal village, perched dramatically on sunlit cliffs overlooking a serene, azure sea. The canvas bursts with vibrant color...
Oil
Everything Else Can Wait, Original Painting
By Nava Lundy
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Soft coastal colors and loose, expressive brushwork evoke the relaxed rhythm of a day at the beach. The scene suggests striped cabanas and umbrellas layered int...
Acrylic
Snowy Cherry Blossoms at Night, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A cherry blossom rises in a chilly, snow-covered landscape. Bold, rhythmic brushstrokes add texture to the violet foliage. Predominantly blue tones suggest a st...
Acrylic
Spirit Herbal Fairies. Original oil painting on canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
Description about painting “Spirit Herbal Fairies” . Collection "Spirit Herbals" In this painting I focus on what gives us resource and taste for life. I invite the viewer to get to ...
Canvas, Oil
The Falling Leaves, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Golden aspen trees frame a quiet mountain lake as distant peaks rise into soft, radiant light. Featuring Bear Lake and the Rocky Mountains, this oil painting hi...
Oil
Wind in the Willows, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A pond beneath trees catches shifting sunlight, creating a dappled pattern across its surface. Ducks and koi fish move through the scene, adding a sense of life...
Oil
The Catch, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero lives just minutes from the New Jersey shore, where he and his wife enjoy long walks along the beach. In the quieter winter months, the ...
Oil
A View of Curryglass, Ireland, Oil Painting
By Mary Pratt
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A tall tree anchors the foreground of this Irish landscape, while a gentle path draws the viewer into the scene. Artist Mary Pratt uses layered palette knife st...
Oil
Roofs of the City, Paris, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Parisian rooftops stand out with their distinctive charm, making the city's skyline instantly recognizable. The architecture, rich with patina, blends turquoise...
Oil
Beachtime, Original Painting
By Kajal Zaveri
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Colorful umbrellas, playful figures, and calm waters come together to evoke memories of carefree beach days. Vivid brushstrokes and bright colors create a sense...
Acrylic
Red Field XXI, Oil Painting
By Mandy Main
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Rows of vibrant green and earthy red plants sweep diagonally across the rolling landscape, creating a pattern that draws the eye in. The loose brushwork contras...
Oil
Spring Light Oil Landscape Painting, Impressionist Style, 90x120 cm
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet ...
Canvas, Oil