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.
Washington Square with Trade Center Towers II
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Wolf von dem Bussche American (born Germany) 1934-2014 Title: Washington Square with Trade Center Towers II Year: 1976 Medium: Gelatin Sil...
Silver Gelatin
Reflections in the Maine Woods
By Harold Davis
Located in Boston, MA
Artist Commentary: This image reminds of Walden Pond, and the peaceful views seen by Henry Thoreau. Words that describe this piece: pond, reflections, au...
Photographic Paper
"Night Train #9" Outside Scenery in Black and White Viewed From a Speedy Train
Located in Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
This artwork by Philippe Saucourt was created with a mixed technique of acrylic painting on photos printed on paper mounted on a wood panel. This artwork is varnished and it is frame...
Paper, Acrylic, Wood Panel, Photogram
Black and White Tree, Nature Photography Print, 2016
Located in Boston, MA
Artist Commentary: This Black and white image is a standard nature shot taken digitally and converted to infrared. Keywords: Infrared, nature, black and white, photo
Paper, Digital
Water Music Series #5040 : landscape photography
By Holly Gordon
Located in New York, NY
Landscape photography by fine art and documentary photographer Holly Gordon. Holly Gordon is one of the many treasures that Long Island has to offer, co...
Archival Pigment
Winter Tree
Located in Boston, MA
Artist Commentary: This image was taken in a wintry day in Ann Arbor , Michigan. You can really sense the cold and the snow by looking at this image. I like the solid layer of snow at the bottom of the image. It's a very moody image. Keywords: tree, infrared, photo, black and white, branch, branches, winter, snow, winter tree...
Paper, Digital
Water Music Series #4996 : landscape photography
By Holly Gordon
Located in New York, NY
Landscape photography by fine art and documentary photographer Holly Gordon. Holly Gordon is one of the many treasures that Long Island has to offer, co...
Archival Pigment
Water Music Series #5037 : landscape photography
By Holly Gordon
Located in New York, NY
Landscape photography by fine art and documentary photographer Holly Gordon. Holly Gordon is one of the many treasures that Long Island has to offer, co...
Archival Pigment
$1,800
H 10 in W 10 in
Inga Lindgren And Poodles, New York, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Swedish model Inga Lindgren, wife of Argentinian finance minister Ceferino Alonso Irigoyen, wears designs by Vera Stewart with her standard poodles...
Emulsion, Photographic Paper, ABS, Black and White, Digital, Photogram
'The Carlton Hotel' 1955 (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
'The Carlton Hotel' A Cadillac with Florida plates parked outside the Carlton Hotel, Cannes, France, circa 1955. Gorgeous print measuring a very large 30 x 30" inches / approx 76 ...
Silver Gelatin, Black and White
$450
H 20 in W 16 in D 0.13 in
Alaska Forest Stream - Black & White Landscape Photograph
Located in Soquel, CA
Beautiful black & white landscape photograph of forest trees and stream in the woods of Alaska, by Anchorage-based nature photographer George Provost (American, 20th Century). Hand signed and dated "George Provost 1989" lower right. Photograph is hand made from an 8x10 camera negative in a traditional "wet" darkroom, by the photographer. Mounted on white mat board. Unframed. Image size: 19"H x 15"W. Born in California, Provost grew up in the Bay Area. He has lived and worked in Alaska since 1987, specializing in large format, fine art, black and white photography. His work has been exhibited in over 60 exhibitions, received numerous awards, and is included in hundreds of collections, both public and private. George Provost was an Isle Royale...
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$4,400
H 32 in W 48 in D 3 in
No Charges - American Flag Painting over Vintage Newsprint Photo Collage
Located in Chicago, IL
Patrick Burns No Charges original newsprint, acrylic, polymer, resin on panel 32h x 48w in 81.28h x 121.92w cm PB0004 Patrick Burns b. 1987, Cleveland, OH Bio I like to explore themes that are unique to the American experience in my work. By merging the iconography of the US flag and the headlines from major events of our past, I can express a more personal understanding of what it means to be an American and the journey that has shaped our country. West Virginia Raised. Maine Educated. Colby College Exhibitions 2015 SOFA Chicago 2015, Ann Nathan Gallery, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL American Experience, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, June 2015 2014 (e)merge Art Fair, Capitol Skyline Hotel, Washington, DC. Amstel...
Resin, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Panel, Newsprint, Polymer
Yosemite Mists
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Titled with artist's reference number on back of mount. Stamped, 'Edward Weston printed by' and signed by Cole Weston on back of mount. Inscribed. Printed later by Cole Weston from ...
Silver Gelatin
English Soldiers in Tientsin - Vintage Photo 1939
Located in Roma, IT
English Soldiers in Tientsin is a b/w photographic print on polished paper, taken on July 31, 1939 by World Photos (England). Stamp and stereotype in ...
Photographic Paper
$3,512
H 29.53 in W 20.28 in D 0.08 in
FlowerHead - Floral, Contemporary, Fine Art print, Nature Still-life
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
An original signed archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Baryta 315 gsm paper by Scottish artist Ian Sanderson (1951- 2020) titled ‘FlowerHead 1 ‘ who was captured on film ...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Black and White, ...
$250
H 6.69 in W 4.53 in D 0.1 in
Flea Market in Paris, 1927, Silver Gelatin Black and White Photography
By Press Photo
Located in Atlanta, GA
A unique original silver gelatin black and white photography. On April 12, 1927, the iconic "Foire à la Ferraille " was an iconic outdoor flea market in Paris. Features: Original sil...
Silver Gelatin
$2,250
H 39 in W 39 in D 0.1 in
"Moon Birth 3" Black & White Photography 39" x 39" in Ed. 1/3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Moon Birth 3" Black & White Photography 39" x 39" in Ed. 1/3 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Comes with COA issued by t...
Photographic Paper
Bare Trees By River
By Roman Loranc
Located in Carmel, CA
Hand printed by Roman Loranc Signed in pencil on recto. Signed, titled, dated and edition S/P on verso. Mat and photo in mint condition. Beautiful toning.
Silver Gelatin
$2,350
H 39 in W 39 in D 0.1 in
"Moon Birth 2" B&W Photograph 39" x 39" in Limited Ed. of 3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Moon Birth 2" B&W Photograph 39" x 39" in Limited Ed. of 3 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Comes with COA issued by the art...
Photographic Paper
Four Hats
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Edition of 8 Fixed is a series of photographs made by Rachel Phillips' alter-ego Madge Cameron: Until this project, Madge Cameron (b. 1935) had always seen photography as a sep...
Archival Pigment, Encaustic, Wood Panel
Cats and Kettles
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Beautiful c.1920s photograph by American artist, Jonathan Pardoe. Silver gelatin print measures 13.75 x 11; 20.25 x 16.5 inches framed. A few bumps ...
Silver Gelatin
Coastal Inlet
Located in Soquel, CA
Coastal inlet by Jim Deike? (American, 20th Century). Unframed. Illegibly signed lower right. Photograph: 10.25"H x 13"W. 16"H x 20"W.
Cardboard, Silver Gelatin, Photographic Paper
Foggy Harbor, Santa Cruz
Located in Soquel, CA
"Foggy Harbor", a black and white photograph on Fujicolor professional paper of the Santa Cruz Harbor, by Richard F. Singer (American, 20th Century). Signed "Richard Singer" and date...
Photographic Paper