Impressionist 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.
Artist Comments
Wildflowers sway with the sea breeze, their vibrant petals complementing the blueness of the sky and water. Painted en plein air, artist Lisa Elley captures the...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Gazing south down the California Coast toward Los Angeles, a dreamy coastal landscape depicts the Central California region. The stunning view encompasses Half ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Wildflowers bloom and display their fullest beauty in springtime, with their colorful petals capturing the light. The poppies in the foreground dominate the sce...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
California's Slow Coast is a nature lover's paradise. Stretching from Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz, hiking trails provide views of wildlife and stunning ocean vi...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A garden teeming with Southern California sunflowers and peonies burst with delight. Its blooming inhabitants engage in a gentle dance, following the wind's com...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
The artwork portrays the Big Sur region with a southward view of the California Coast and Los Angeles. Lush hills transition into ocher cliffs filled with poppi...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Like the dreamy vistas in Monterey Bay, the painting depicts a vibrant scene where the morning light shines over China Cove near Carmel, California. The wind ge...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
In her impressionist rendition, artist Lisa Elley portrays Claude Monet's iconic residence in Giverny, France, using a palette knife. A thriving garden, teeming...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
This painting draws inspiration from the architecture of quintessential Italian villages. The sunlight accentuates the stone walls and shutters, while a pot of ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
This painting vividly captures a lively sunset at Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz, California. The sky's reflection ripples with the rolling waves, ble...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Nestled in Coastal Big Sur, California, the jagged cliffs meet the soothing azure waves, creating a picturesque scenery. Enhanced by the vibrant hues of the wildflower...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A quiet stream cuts through a forest of birch trees in their autumn colors. With thick impasto textures, artist List Elley creates beautiful movement in the col...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
"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 arti...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Inspired by the azure waters of iconic Lake Tahoe, artist Lisa Elley portrays the beauty of the mountains in the fall season. Her signature impasto technique ca...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
"It suggests a beautiful fall day in the mountains with the colorful changing leaves on display," shares artist Lisa Elley. Lisa's signature impasto trees come ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Lisa Elley shows her signature palette knife trees textured with deep impasto strokes. The foliage exhibits subtle movement and richness in colors. Lisa'...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Coastal Davenport, California, comes alive with the essence of the Pacific coast in artist Lisa Elley's impressionist seascape. Rugged cliffs meet the gentle ca...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
"On a serene spring morning, I was inspired to take a drive to the coastal town of Pacific Grove near Monterey," says artist Lisa Elley. She presents a panorami...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Lisa Elley depicts a glade of autumnal aspens in a rustic woodland. Once a year, she takes her fall sojourn to the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains to soa...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
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 Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Lisa Elley presents an impressionist garden with extraordinarily rich flora. She paints the piece with a palette knife, greatly inspired by Monet's work....
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Lisa Elley captures the vibrant beauty of the South San Francisco Bay through the mesmerizing allure of California poppies. Painted en plein air, the piece reflects the enchanting scene of a sun-kissed meadow. A kaleidoscope of flowers dances in the gentle breeze. She paints with thick impasto to depict the extraordinarily rich flora.
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: poppy...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
2010s Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Lisa Elley presents a gorgeous view of lupines and daisies overlooking a tranquil seascape. "California explodes with color in the springtime, and occasi...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Lisa Elley paints a sweeping view of an impressionist seascape in bright and summery colors. She paints this charming coastal piece en plein air at Daven...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
I love a classic floral painting, and here is one of mine done entirely with the palette knife, which gives it amazing ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Here are my signature palette knife birch trees, with tons of thick oil paint and beautiful fall color contrast with a surreal background, intertwined with co...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Whether it's fall, winter, spring or summer it's always time for some colorful birch! This painting is done with a palette knife, and resonates with a poetic ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
We often take a drive on the weekends out of the San Francisco Bay, to Monterey Bay. As my husband plays with the kids, I capture these moments with my palet...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
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 Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Cypress trees surround a winery, with poppies blooming along the pathway. Inspired by a Tuscan vineyard in Italy, this artwork vividly captures a vibrant summ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
"Experience the enchanting beauty of Lake Tahoe through my palette knife oil painting," says artist Lisa Elley. Showing serene waters and majestic mountains, Lisa paints with thick impasto to bring the iconic landscape to life. The vibrant colors and rich textures capture the essence of nature - inviting the viewer to immerse themselves in the tranquil atmosphere of the refreshing scenery.
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: Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, California, lake, nature, forest, summer, season, trees, Sierras, South Lake Tahoe...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Art
Oil
