Impressionism (1870s-1880s)
According to Gardner's Art Through the Ages, The Western Perspective, Volume 2, Impressionism is "both in content and style, an art of industrialized Paris", with opposing styles from Realism”, (which focused on the present). “Impressionism focuses on a single moment in time, responding to Claude Monet’s (1840-1926), painting, Impression Sunrise in the 19th century”, (p701).
Impressionist Paintings incorporate qualities of the “sketch”, with characteristics including: small, thin, yet visible brush strokes; a feeling of openness in the painting or composition; emphasis on an accurate representation of light and how light changes throughout the day; (the effects of the passage of time). giving normal and ordinary subject matter an illusion of movement as a significantly important element of how human beings see and experience; similar to a photograph, by using unusual visual angles.
Impressionist Paintings incorporate qualities of the “sketch”, with characteristics including: small, thin, yet visible brush strokes; a feeling of openness in the painting or composition; emphasis on an accurate representation of light and how light changes throughout the day; (the effects of the passage of time). giving normal and ordinary subject matter an illusion of movement as a significantly important element of how human beings see and experience; similar to a photograph, by using unusual visual angles.
I-Spy
Elements of Art, (Discovering Colour and Line)
1. What is the art form, “Impressionism”? Explain in detail, where this style came from? List the characteristics of Impressionist Paintings.
2. What do you notice about the way line and colour is expressed in these impressionist paintings? Explain in detail.
3. “I SPY” a painting which expresses many thick and dark lines, has a busy composition (painting), and is surrounded throughout with blocks of black colour:
Artist:
Title of the Painting:
Date:
Medium: (Material Used):
4. “I SPY” a painting which expresses elements of light, and how light transforms throughout the day in nature:
Artist:
Title of the Painting:
Date:
Medium: (Material Used):
5.“I SPY” a painting which uses the style of pointillism, instead of soft brush strokes to apply the importance of light in the painting:
Artist:
Title of the Painting:
Date:
Medium: (Material Used):
6. “I SPY” a painting which uses a limited colour range, thick straight lines, and a significant change of atmosphere in foreground (front), horizon (middle) and background (back) of the painting:
Artist:
Title of the Painting:
Date:
Medium: (Material Used):
7. List the title and artist of one painting that really draws your eye. Explain in detail why you were drawn to this particular painting? What characteristics of Impressionism exist in this painting?
Impression Sunrise (1872)
Claude Monet
Oil on Canvas (48 x 63 cm)
La Grande Canal (1875)
Edouard Manet
Oil on Canvas (54 x 65cm)
Le Moulin de le Galette (1876)
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Oil on Canvas (4' 3'' x 5' 8'')
Sunday Afternoon On the Island of the Grand-Jatte (1884-86)
George Seurat
Oil on Canvas
Four Dancers (1899)
Edgar Degas
Oil on Canvas
