Impressionist Still-life Paintings
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.
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Oil, Panel
Artist Comments
Artist Sherri Aldawood paints dainty orchids nestled in multi-colored flower pots. "I saw these orchids at the Conservatory in San Diego's Balboa Park," shares Sherri. She captures the bright morning light illuminating the blossoms while contrasting against the darker background. The evident balance of light and shadow creates a harmonious display.
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 Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
1990s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Watercolor, Laid Paper
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Linen, Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Yellow lilies and pink carnations fill a glass vase resting at the edge of a wooden table. Textured brushstrokes bring the floral arrangement to life, while pastel colors add warmth. The composition exudes a sense of joy and freshness.
About the Artist
Artist Samuel Pretorius' paintings evoke a quiet nostalgia. Each brushstroke suggests a shape, a landscape, or a subject—letting the memory of the viewer fill in the details. He invariably works with photographs, creating representations of actual locations he documents, and enjoys making bold brush movements that capture the essence of his subject in the fewest marks possible. "My paintings are best described as 'suggestionistic.' I aim to create fleeting images that you long to see again, a place that you will never forget, or one you yearn to visit," says Samuel. Originally from South Africa, he comes from a family of artists who encouraged him early to paint and draw. In primary school, his work was included in a national exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum. While growing up, his art education came from exhibiting at local art galleries, participating in open markets and plein air painting events, and joining monthly exhibitions. Recently becoming a US citizen, Samuel decided to dedicate a portion of his study to his home studio to fulfill his passion for painting. This well-lit area, often supervised by his Siamese cat, allows him to paint any time of the day. Outside the creative industry, Samuel enjoys exploring the world's beauty and creating code as a software developer.
Words that describe this painting: flower, floral, vase, bouquet, lily, carnation, pastel, bouquet, painterly, impressionism, still life, flora, acrylic painting, pink
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Wood, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil, Linen
Late 19th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Mixed Media, Cardboard
Early 20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
1950s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
This still-life painting depicts two red roses in a vase. The rich hues of the flowers stand out against the transparent glass and subdued background. The simple impressionistic rendering of the elements imparts a sense of stillness to the composition.
About the Artist
Artist Carey Parks paints impressionist scenes of everyday life that imbue a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of a family album. By observing how her subjects navigate their way and relate to each other, Carey seizes the moment they are randomly connected, even so briefly. "My goal is to capture the character and personalities of the individuals in a scene, as well as the surroundings as a whole," shares Carey. Positive in her artistry, she completed her undergraduate degrees in Fine Art and Zoology from UC Santa Barbara, then finished with a Master's in Art. When producing her paintings, she frequently mixes paint directly on the canvas to create intriguing color palettes. She carries out her creativity in her home studio, an organized space that helps her minimize any distractions. Carey also teaches as an adjunct professor of art during the school year. She enjoys running, hiking, and relaxing at the beach during her free time. Her esteemed work has been profiled in American Artist Magazine and numerous local publications.
Words that describe this painting: flower, rose, stem, vase, glass, floral...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Ink, Oil, Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Linen, Oil
1950s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Gouache
Late 20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
1950s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous." ~ Aristotle I love a classic floral painting, and here ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Linen, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Watercolor
2010s Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media