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.
Horse Sketch #1, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original contemporary impressionism oil on panel horse painting :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: ...
Oil
Colorado River, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original dead horse point contemporary impressionism oil on canvas :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of a...
Oil
Farm with Blue Hills, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Signed: ...
Oil
Afternoon Sky, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
Afternoon sky changing color for night original oil on panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Re...
Oil
Horse Sketch #6, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original Horse artwork oil on panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :...
Oil
New Mexico Chapel, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
Old New Mexico Chapel paint at location in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificat...
Oil
Field Flowers, Painting, Oil on MDF Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original plein air oil on MDF panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Signed:...
Oil
Lake, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel paint in New Mexico :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to ...
Oil
Edge of River, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original landscape oil on panel painting in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by t...
Oil
San Francisco Cable Car Fine Art Print Hahnemuhle Paper Baryta
Located in Miami, FL
A unique view of a cable car poised against billowing clouds in San Francisco. Photographer Mitchell Funk captured the precise angle at which the car reached the pinnacle of the hill...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Desert Farm, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original oil on panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: ...
Oil
Water from Mountain, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
Original oil on panel paint near Hoosier Pass :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No...
Oil
Sunrise, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by t...
Oil
Mountain Stream, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel paint in Idaho :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang...
Oil
Hills and Rocks, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by t...
Oil
San Francisco de Asis, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel paint in Taos , New Mexico :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Re...
Oil
Hills in Green, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by t...
Oil
Horse Sketch #2, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original oil on panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: ...
Oil
The Canyon, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
Original en plein air oil on panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Signed: ...
Oil
Deer, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
Two Deer in Utah mountain Original oil on panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an o...
Oil
Aspen, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
Aspen original oil painting on panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Signed...
Oil
Colorado Autumn, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel paint near Durango, Colorado :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: ...
Oil
Cows in Snow, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
Cows in Snow original oil on panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by t...
Oil
Autumn Color, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
Original plein air oil on panel For Holiday season this painting is priced $1000.00 from original value $1450.00 with free shipping. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece co...
Oil
$4,500
Central Park at Dawn First Light in Blue and Yellow Mist, Fine Art Photography
Located in Miami, FL
The movie light illuminates a path in Central Park on a foggy morning. The circular light appears behind a light pole and appears as if it would be the su...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Big Eddy, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
Original en plein air oil on canvas panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: S...
Oil
Green Water, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
Original en plein air oil on panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Signed:...
Oil
Riverside, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on MDF panel paint by Platte River :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Rea...
Oil
Cowshed, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
original oil on canvas paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist ::...
Oil
Water for Horse, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
Original oil on panel paint in Contemporary Impressionism Style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: ...
Oil
Vintage Central Park Scene In Golden Bronze Light, New York City
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Central Park scene with hot dog vendor pulling his cart at sunset. The work is signed, dated, and numbered 3/15 in the lower right recto corner, with other sizes available. ...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Gold Mill, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
Original fine art oil on panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of...
Oil
Forest Pond Abstract, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original oil on panel for holiday season painting is priced $ 325.00 from original value $ 650.00 :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of a...
Oil
Ranger House, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Signed: ...
Oil
Abiquiu Lake, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
Original en plein air oil on panel paint in Abiquiu New Mexico :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of auth...
Oil
Yellowstone River SD, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original plein air oil on panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Signed: Yes...
Oil
Insider, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel paint in Taos New Mexico :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Read...
Oil
5 pm, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
late evening in the city original oil on panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: ...
Oil
Dining Out, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original oil on panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: ...
Oil
Winter Wonderland, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
Winter landscape original en plein air oil on panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authent...
Oil
10 September 2019, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original botanical oil on panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Signed: Ye...
Oil
Nocturn, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel paint in redland :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Ha...
Oil
Overnight Snow, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Signed:...
Oil
Edge of Creek, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
original oil on canvas paint from en plein air :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: Y...
Oil
Outside Dining, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
Denver Cityscape original oil painting on panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: N...
Oil
February Snow, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by t...
Oil
Big Dry Creek East, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Spring melt snow by Big Dry Creek Original oil on canvas :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signe...
Oil
$4,200
Palace Of Fine Arts Marina District of San Francisco with Runner Pastel Colors
Located in Miami, FL
Early morning light evokes a soft pastel San Francisco landscape. Signed, Dated, number Lower left 3/15 recto, unframed, other size available. Mitchell Funk is a pioneer of " Color...
Inkjet
Wherever You Look, You See The Chrysler Building, Chelsea
Located in Miami, FL
Peek-a-boo! Wherever You Look, You See The Chrysler Building. Viewed from Chelsea, with warm golden light, the Art Deco crown peeks out from among other boxy high-rises that compose...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Waterland, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by t...
Oil
Chrysler Building at Night with New York Skyline Vista
Located in Miami, FL
The Chrysler Building rises like a rocket ship in a glittering sky, conveying a sense of boundlessness. An aura of soft light caresses the scene, giving it a touch of mystical signif...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
San Francisco Nocturne
Located in Miami, FL
The joy of photography is on full display as Mitchell Funk captures the moody blues and reds of San Francisco's California street . Signed and dated on lower right, numbered on vers...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Street Basketball with Angelic Light Burst in Gold
Located in Miami, FL
Light jumps out. Players jump up. Light bounces off a window. Basketball bounces off a backboard. The interplay of extreme light and shadow makes "Street Basketball with Angelic Light " a unique and pioneering photograph. Taking in 1974, it was a rejection of contemporary color photography at the time, which was not concerned with light. This image by Funk is a glorification of light. As light strikes form, it becomes stylized and almost abstract, creating a new relationship between subject and style. An indication of the date this was taken is revealed by the old fashion TV antennas...
Archival Pigment, Archival Ink, Archival Paper
Yampa River Autumn, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel paint in Steamboat Springs, Colorado :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate...
Oil
Statue of Liberty on a Truck, New York City
Located in Miami, FL
Most cities have a chaotic visual schema. However, through the lens of veteran Street Photographer Mitchell Funk, anarchy becomes order. In the present work, "Statue of Liberty on a...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
$65,500
Solitary Runner Central Park Snow Storm, Abstract Photography Mitchell Funk
Located in Miami, FL
A vast and wide view of one of the world's most densely populated cities shows only one person. A lone runner surrounded by white snow is framed by New York's Central Park South sky...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
New York Skyline, Hotel Dixie
Located in Miami, FL
In the early in1970's Mitchell Funk was one of the very few photo innovators who used extreme late afternoon golden light. In "Hotel Dixie, 1975, the intense light not only illumin...
Photographic Paper
Empire State Building Chats with Chrysler Building
Located in Miami, FL
This highly dramatic photograph shows a dialog between the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building as they appeared in 1998. Photographer Mitchell Funk captures mid-town New...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Manhattan Bridge, Empire State Building, Impressionist Print, 1975
Located in Miami, FL
A golden Empire State Building sits comfortably inside the center arch of the Manhattan bridge as if that space was designed for it. Precise composition combined with magical lat...
Photographic Paper, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Inkjet, Archival Pigment
$5,000
Volleyball in Central Park with Golden Light at the Magic Hour - Impressionist
Located in Miami, FL
New Yorkers are captured in leisure time with a magical golden rim light that transforms the subjects into shapes. Signed dated and numbered 3/15 lower right recto, other sizes avail...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment