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.
Jordan Original Oil Painting, English Fox Hunt Scene with Rider, Horses & Hounds
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This finely executed oil on canvas depicts a classic English fox hunting scene, featuring a distinguished rider dressed in a traditional red hunting coat, mounted on a white horse an...
Oil
Morteratsch Glacier Landscape Painting, Oil on Canvas, 25x35 cm
By Simon Kozhin
Located in Zofingen, AG
Morteratsch is a valley glacier in the Bernina Massif, canton of Graubnden, Switzerland. This painting is a naturalistic study of the Morteratsch Glacier in Switzerland—a stunning la...
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$3,200Sale Price|20% Off
Impressionistic Maine Seascape Oil Painting Cullen Yates NA Salmagundi Artist
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Off The Maine Coast oil/canvas 12 x 16 unframed, 20.25 x 24.25 framed signed LR Housed in the original frame as purchased with a chip on the upper left inside silver section hardly n...
Oil
Roses √1
Located in Zofingen, AG
Women and flowers are an inexhaustible theme. Complete harmony and peace reign here. Flowers attract and inspire. Roses reign supreme; they are beautiful. The painting will be sent r...
Canvas, Acrylic
Vintage Maritime Seascape Oil Painting with Dutch Ships Nautical Naval Art
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This finely executed oil on canvas depicts a dramatic maritime scene with several Dutch sailing ships navigating choppy waters under a vast, cloud-filled sky. The central vessel domi...
Oil
"Road to Lake Nockamixon" Impressionist Pastoral Snow Scene Oil Painting Framed
Located in New York, NY
A charming Impressionist winter snow-covered pastoral scene depicting the road to Lake Nockamixon in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This piece is executed in an intimate yet energetic m...
Oil, Board
Superb Mid 20th Century French Portrait of Woman in Blue Shirt, signed framed
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait of a Woman in a Blue Shirt by Georges Eugène Delhomme (French, 1904-1989) signed oil on board, framed in original vintage frame. framed: 30.5 x 26 inches board: 24 x 32 inc...
Oil
Locmariaquer - French Impressionist Brittany Beach Coastal Landscape Painting
By Willem van Hasselt
Located in Sevenoaks, GB
A very beautiful 1930's impressionist oil on board depicting the beach at Locmariaquer in Brittany, France by the important Dutch painter Willem van Hasselt. The work has exceptiona...
Oil
Early 20th Century Mission San Juan Capistrano - Figurative Landscape
By Warren E. Rollins
Located in Soquel, CA
Early 20th Century Mission San Juan Capistrano - Figurative Landscape Stunning figurative landscape of the Mission San Juan Capistrano by Warren Eliphalet Rollins (American, 1861-1962). Presented in a giltwood frame. This is a study for a larger painting of the same scene. Signed "Capistrano" in lower right. Frame size: 19"H x 26"W Canvas size: 14.5"H x 21"W. For many years Warren Eliphalet Rollins was known as the "Dean of the Santa Fe art colony." He was the first artist to have a formal exhibition there; it was held in 1906 in the old Palace of the Governors. He was a close friend of Carlos...
Canvas, Oil
"Under the Spanish Sun".
Located in Zofingen, AG
The beauty of the Spanish land enchants and takes your breath away. It is diverse. From the sea shores of Catalonia to the outskirts of Madrid. You can endlessly admire it and paint ...
Canvas, Acrylic
The Lavender Field, Southern France, French Impressionist Oil on Board, Signed
Located in Cotignac, FR
French Impressionist oil, on Isorel board, landscape of a lavender field by Paul Jean. The painting is signed bottom right. This vibrant painting captures a magnificent yet serene r...
Oil, Board
Beneath the Arches, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The impressionist painting captures the ease of a sunlit afternoon spent in a Mediterranean garden courtyard. Warm light filters th...
Oil
Antique Portrait of a woman, original antique oil painting by Eugene Smits
Located in AIGNAN, FR
Antique oil on wood portrait of a woman by Belgium artist, Eugine Smits 1800s. This delightful painting in its rich and powerful tones and scultured impressionist paint layers is ve...
Oil
$960Sale Price|20% Off
Impressionistic River Landscape Painting Michael Budden Morning Mist Sail Boat
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Morning Mist oil/canvas 9x12 unframed, 12.63 x 15.63 framed signed LR Morning Mist is a landscape oil painting that showcases a beautiful soft misty morning in the summer with a sail...
Oil
"Sunny Beach".
Located in Zofingen, AG
Open space, wind movement, brightness and freshness.These feelings come to us when we look at this picture. The color palette is rich in contrasts and smooth transitions. The work wa...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,666
The Boltons - original cityscape oil painting contemporary impressionist artwork
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 C...
Linen, Oil
Antique Italian Landscape Oil Painting Signed Rastelli, Vintage Framed Art
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This beautiful antique oil painting on canvas presents a tranquil classical landscape, complete with a serene river, stone bridge, rustic buildings, towering trees, and two small fig...
Oil
"Summer Tranquility" Dennis Sheehan, Marsh Landscape, Dramatic Skyscape, Sunset
Located in New York, NY
Dennis Sheehan Summer Tranquility, circa 2025 Signed lower right Oil on canvas 23 1/2 x 39 1/2 inches Dennis Sheehan was born in Boston in 1950. His work is based upon the Barbizon...
Canvas, Oil
Flowers. Indigo
Located in Zofingen, AG
This small piece will decorate a wall in a bedroom or living room. It will fit harmoniously into a composition of several paintings of different sizes and styles. The painting is don...
Canvas, Acrylic
$672
Held Steady - original impressionism figurative oil painting - contemporary art
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 C...
Oil, Board
Antique American impressionist plein air oil painting period frame pink purple
Located in Buffalo, NY
This atmospheric early 20th-century landscape depicts a quiet river bend bordered by leafless trees, rendered in a restrained tonal palette of soft greens, muted blues, warm browns, ...
Oil, Panel
Autumn Goodies
Located in Zofingen, AG
Autumn Goodies This still life was painted from life. Soft, diffused daylight fills the space, gently interacting with transparent glass, matte surfaces, and textured fabric. The r...
Canvas, Oil
Italian Impressionist Watercolour COLOURFUL ITALIAN GARDEN SCENE 1920's ART DECO
Located in Cirencester, GB
ARTIST: Giorgio De Wolff (early 20th Century) Italian TITLE: "Italian Summer Garden Border" SIGNED: lower left and dated 1929 MEDIUM: watercolour SIZE: 66cm x 58cm inclusive of fram...
Watercolor
$2,360Sale Price|20% Off
Impressionist Landscape: Early Morning Fog Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Atlanta, GA
Clifton, a Chinese contemporary artist, immerses himself in the exquisite art of plein-air painting. With each brushstroke, he captures the dynamic interplay of light and atmosphere,...
Canvas, Oil
"Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom" Colorful Landscape Oil Painting on Canvas Framed
Located in New York, NY
A wonderful impressionist pastoral landscape with beautiful color tones throughout. Waltsak has portrayed this piece in a most intimate yet energetic way and has packed much feeling ...
Oil, Board
Sea of Clouds, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Towering cumulus clouds drift overhead and provide shade to the beach below. The contrast between the monumental sky and the quiet human presence on the shore speaks to humans' small but significant place in the natural world. Painted with oil on canvas, this impressionist seascape evokes tranquility.
About the Artist
Artist Aruna Rao paints impressionistic seascapes that capture the shimmer of light, the movement of water, and the quiet poetry of coastal life. "I am endlessly inspired by how light transforms a scene, softening the atmosphere and turning an ordinary moment into something unforgettable," says Aruna. Growing up in a literary family in India, she was surrounded by stories and art, which sparked her love of narrative and visual expression. After a 20-year career in IT, she returned to painting, earning an MFA with top honors from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Living in Florida offers endless inspiration, from sunrise beaches and glowing horizons to quiet harbors and small human moments that evoke joy and nostalgia. Influenced by French Impressionists and contemporary coastal painters, Aruna creates luminous works that invite the viewer to pause, breathe, and rediscover the beauty of the present moment. When she is not painting, she enjoys beach walks, discovering music, watching films with her husband, and spending time with their two cats.
Words that describe this painting: cloudscape, cloud, beach, coast, shore, summer, Marc Hanson...
Oil
«Soft autumn near the fjord» Original impressionistic Landscape paintings. Large
Located in Oslo, NO
Immerse yourself in the radiant beauty of "Soft autumn near the fjord," a captivating landscape painting that perfectly captures the essence of the fall. Golden and amber leaves ador...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Antique American Still Life Oil Painting Yellow Roses Bowl Frame Gold Silver
Located in Buffalo, NY
This evocative antique still life presents a quiet arrangement of white roses, delicately rendered in oil on canvas and set against a warm, atmospheric ground. The composition center...
Canvas, Oil
Autumn Glow – original impressionist contemporary landscape painting
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 C...
Canvas, Oil
$4,067Sale Price|20% Off
“Bergen. The silence of the Christmas morning. Landscape Paintings. Impasto.
Located in Oslo, NO
This artwork vividly captures a serene winter evening in a picturesque harbor town. A row of quaint, traditional buildings, each with uniquely patterned facades, lines the waterfront...
Canvas, Oil
Sunset Italian Beach Painting, Seascape in Soft Pastels, 60x80 cm
By Simon Kozhin
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting, painted by a plain air artist in the studio, depicts a quiet seascape at dusk, where the sea meets rugged cliffs on the left. This place is called the Italian Beach an...
Canvas, Oil
Queen Painting of Women and Flowers, Figurative, 100x80 cm, New
Located in Zofingen, AG
She is truly the queen of lakes and rivers. Water lily. This painting is made in the impressionist style and is also stylized in an abstract style. Deep green shades and light ones w...
Canvas, Acrylic
$31,500
Fishing Boat Reflections, Vibrant French Seascape by American Impressionist
Located in Beachwood, OH
Abel Warshawsky (American, 1883-1962) Fishing Boat Reflections, France, c. 1915 Oil on canvas Signed lower left 21 x 18 inches 27.5 x 24.5 inches, framed Impressionist painter A.G...
Oil
$1,300
Gerhard Lukas Larsen (German 1911-1965) Oil canvas Vintage, Maritime, Seascape
Located in Palm Coast, FL
Stunning large vintage seascape oil painting by Gerhard Lukas Larsen (German, 1911–1965), celebrated for his dynamic maritime works and atmospheric coastal scenes. This impressive co...
Oil
Salty Sea Breezes, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
People wander along the shoreline in an easy, unhurried rhythm. The wide stretch of sand, blue sky, and fresh salt air evoke the simple pleasure of a beach day....
Oil
Evening Mood, View Over Graneberg, Oil on Canvas, Signed, 1924
Located in Stockholm, SE
In Evening Mood, View Over Graneberg (original Swedish title Aftonstämning, Graneberg, Uppland), painted in 1924, Olof Thunman presents an afternoon scene in the countryside outside ...
Canvas, Oil
Moonlight Seascape Original Oil Painting on Linen, Ready to Hang
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Karen Darbinyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2025 Style: Impressionism Title: Moonlight Size: 17.5" x 23.5" x 0.8'...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
Antique American School Impressionist Forest Interior Gem Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American impressionist forest landscape oil painting. Oil on canvas. Signed illegibly. Framed. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Measuring: 24 by 28 inches painti...
Oil, Canvas
"Ballerines à Paris" Colorful Impressionist Interior Scene Oil Painting Framed
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional impressionistic depiction of Ballerinas in an interior scene by Jules René Hervé. Hervé is known as a painter of the scenes of Parisian life. This piece is a pertinent...
Oil, Board
Original Fine English Antique Impressionist oil painting CHICKENS IN A GARDEN
By Harry Fidler
Located in Cirencester, GB
Artist: Harry Fidler RBA ROI (1856-1935) English Title: "Chickens In A Garden" (inscribed with title indistinctly verso) Signed: lower left and inscribed with the artists name and t...
Oil
Resting In Your Garden. Large Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
Located in Brecon, Powys
Francesca Owen has pulled out a triumph of a painting in Resting in Your Garden, Full of colour and light this is a sublime piece that will bring a bold, beautiful focus to the wall....
Oil
"SPRING SHOWERS" G. HARVEY (1933-2017) TEXAS HILL COUNTRY RANCH
By G. Harvey
Located in San Antonio, TX
G. Harvey (Gerald Harvey Jones) (1933-2017) San Antonio, Austin, and Fredericksburg Artist Image Size: 20 x 24 Frame Size: 29.5 x 33 Medium: Oil on canvas "Spring Showers" Mr. Geral...
Oil
$532
“The house by the lake” Original impressionistic, Landscape Paintings ainting.
Located in Oslo, NO
The painting you described is a beautifully textured artwork that captures a tranquil lakeside scene. In the background, a charming cabin with a blue roof is nestled within a dense f...
Oil, Cardboard
"Rain"
Located in Zofingen, AG
"It might seem strange to some that I called the painting ""Rain."" But imagine a window opening and a fresh breeze blowing into the house. It blows flower petals off and they rain d...
Canvas, Acrylic
Roses √6
Located in Zofingen, AG
Pink roses in a beautiful bouquet. The soft green background fades to pink. This color scheme exudes freshness, brightness, and love. The painting is painted with large brushstrokes,...
Canvas, Acrylic
$13,200Sale Price|20% Off
American Impressionist Artist Guy C Wiggins 1883-1962 Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Rocks & Trees Oil/Board 12 x 16 image unframed, 18.75 x 22.75 framed Signed lower left although hard to read. No restoration noted on painting and housed in a reproduction frame....
Oil
Quiet Horizons, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Aruna Rao captures the peaceful stillness of a sunlit dune path leading toward the open sea. Warm grasses glow in the gentle light, while a soft sky and ...
Oil
John Enneking “Winter Morning on the Common”
Located in San Francisco, CA
John Joseph Enneking: 1841-1916. Very well listed and very important 19th and early 20th century American artist. he painted in several styles, including tonalist,limpressionist and ...
Oil
$1,182Sale Price|37% Off
Autumn Morning Spain oil on canvas painting mediterranean landscape
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Author: Joan Gil i Gil (Barcelona, 1900 – 1984) Title: Autumn Morning Date: 1934 Technique: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 81 × 100 cm (31.9 × 39.4 in) Signature: Signed lower left: Joan ...
Canvas, Oil
Enchanted is the Endless Dream
Located in Atlanta, GA
Born in the San Si Providence of China, Jang Jin Joong, known as his artist’s name Barnes, fell in love with art since he was a child. His passion for art continued into his pursuit ...
Canvas, Oil
Venice Grand Canal Oil Painting L. Harland Signed Vintage Large Framed Art
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This impressive large-format Venetian view captures the iconic Grand Canal with the unmistakable silhouette of Santa Maria della Salute, rendered in bold palette-knife textures and l...
Oil
$4,300
Exploration Abstract Contemporary art Original Painting, Ready to Hang
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Varouján Hovakimyan Title: Exploration Medium: Acrylic on Textured Canvas Year: 2024 Style: Contemporary Art Dimensions: 36" x 48'' x 1.5" inch (91 x 122 x 4cm) Presentation:...
Canvas, Acrylic
$6,950
American Impressionist landscape Coastal waves hitting Rocks, Cape Cod
By Arrah Lee Gaul
Located in Woodbury, CT
Arrah Lee Gaul (American, 1881–1973) Coastal Cliffs and Breaking Surf Circa 1950 Oil on canvas Signed lower right In a Newcomb-Macklin frame A luminous and confidently handled coas...
Canvas, Oil
Golden Sunset
Located in Zofingen, AG
Looking at this picture we see how beautiful the sunset is, even in winter. Although there is snow and cold all around, this is what makes the color palette special. The sunset is co...
Canvas, Acrylic
Vintage American Impressionist Large Nude Woman Interior Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American impressionist nude woman portrait oil painting. Oil on canvas. Signed. Framed. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Handsomely framed in a giltwood molding. ...
Oil, Canvas
$1,773Sale Price|25% Off
Woman with Red Flower oil on canvas painting
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Francisco Sanchis Cortés – Woman with Red Flower Medium: Oil on canvas Canvas dimensions: 73 × 54 cm (28.7 × 21.3 in) Framed dimensions: 91 × 72 cm (35.8 × 28.3 in) Signature: Signe...
Oil
'Apple Blossoms', Paris, New York, Chicago, AIC, ASL, Japanese Edo, Woman Artist
By Anna Lee Stacey
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, 'Anna Lee Stacey' (American, 1871–1943) and dated, verso, 1924. An elegant and substantial still-life depicting apple blossoms elegantly and informally arranged b...
Canvas, Oil
Tidewalkers, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Soft light glows across the shoreline in the calm of early evening. A person and their dog share a quiet moment in the surf, their bond gently framed by shimmer...
Oil
"Flamingo Pond"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
The painting depicts a quiet dawn over a spacious pond, the water shimmering with shades of azure and silver. The delicate silhouettes of flamingos emerge on this mirror-like surface...
Canvas, Oil
$680Sale Price|20% Off
Impressionistic Farm Landscape Oil Painting Michael Budden Sky Cloud Study
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Afternoon Sky is an oil on panel painting just completed in the studio. The painting exudes the rich qualities of oil paint with bright strong color, a variety of lost and found edge...
Oil