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.
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
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
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
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
South of Taos, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original landscape oil on panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the ...
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
Big Tesuque, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel paint in Big Tesuque New Mexico :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist ...
Oil
Farm Barn, 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
Winter Color, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
Winter Color original oil on panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Signed:...
Oil
North Side, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original mountain landscape oil on panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity sig...
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Woodland Edge, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air landscape paint in Colorado :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang:...
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Trail, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original winter landscape en plein oil on panel :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: N...
Oil
Red Roof Farm, 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
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
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
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
Melting Snow, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Spring melting snow original contemporary impressionism oil on canvas :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the arti...
Oil
FDC, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
Original cityscape paint in en plein air :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: S...
Oil
Bear, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
Original Bear oil on panel painting :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Signed:...
Oil
Front Ranch, 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
Red Canyon, 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
Wolf Creek Pass, Painting, Oil on Other
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel paint in Colorado :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Ha...
Oil
Summer Afternoon, 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
Pier D, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
original oil on panel painting at Galveston Port :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: ...
Oil
Industrial Construction, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
original oil on canvas panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the art...
Oil
Nederland, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original en plein air oil on canvas paint in Nederland , Colorado :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :...
Oil
Shallow River, Painting, Oil on MDF Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
Original en plein air oil on MDF panel paint in contemporary Impressionism Style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed ...
Oil
Barker Reservoir, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on canvas panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity sign...
Oil
Two Boulders, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on panel paint im contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by t...
Oil
Schreiner Mansion, Painting, Oil on Canvas
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
Approaching Storm, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on canvas panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity sign...
Oil
Guadalupe River Bridge, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on canvas panel paint in contemporary impressionism style :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity sign...
Oil
Creek, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on canvas panel paint :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: ...
Oil
Guadalupe River, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
original en plein air oil on canvas panel paint at MO- Ranch TX :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: ...
Oil