What is Impressionism?

Impressionism emerged in the 1860s and flourished in the 1970s and 1980s. It opposed conservative classicism and fictional romanticism. In the last 30 years of the 19th century, it became the mainstream of French art and influenced the entire Western painting circle. Representative painters such as Manet, Renoir and Monet all regarded "light" and "color" as the main goals pursued in painting. They advocated going out of the studio, depicting natural scenes, and using quick techniques to grasp the impression of the moment to make the picture appear fresh. A vivid feeling. It is named after Monet's "Sunrise Impression".

Impressionist painting is an epoch-making art school in the history of Western painting.

It reached its heyday in the 1870s and 1980s. Its influence spread throughout Europe and gradually spread to all over the world, but it achieved its most glorious artistic achievements in France. From the second half of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, a large number of Impressionist art masters emerged in France. They created a large number of classic masterpieces that are still familiar to this day, such as Manet's "Luncheon on the Grass" and Monet's "Sunrise." Impression" and Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" are even more famous.

Birth

In 1863, the "Salon Exhibition of Unselected Works", which was in opposition to the official Salon exhibition, was held in Paris. Manet exhibited his "Luncheon on the Grass", which depicts a naked woman having lunch with gentlemen on the grass. The painting was considered immoral and received fierce criticism and ridicule. But innovative painters such as Monet, Renoir, Degas, Sisley, Pissarro, and Cézanne were willing to ally with Manet. In April 1874, an exhibition entitled "Exhibition of Unknown Artists such as Painters, Sculptors and Printmakers" was held in the studio of photographer Nadar on rue Capucine in Paris. "Crazy, grotesque, stomach-churning, and unsightly!" This was the denunciation of a Paris art critic. The exhibition quickly became the talk of the streets in Paris. The audience not only went to laugh at it, but even spat on the canvas. Among them, a small seascape painted by Monet was the most ridiculed. It painted a morning view of Harvard Harbor and was titled "Sunrise Impression." Journalist Louis Leroy, who had conservative views on art, used this title to ridicule It was an "exhibition of Impressionist painters", from which "Impressionism" got its name. The Impressionist Painting Exhibition was held eight times from 1874 to 1886. Except for the first, fourth and eighth exhibitions, the word "Impressionism" was used as the title of the exhibition.

Sunrise·Impression

This famous painting is a sketch painted by Monet in the port of Le Havre in 1872. He also painted "Sunset" at the same location. When it was sent to the first Impressionist exhibition, neither painting had a title. A journalist ridiculed Monet's paintings as "a denial of beauty and truth, which can only give people one impression." Monet then gave this painting a title - "Sunrise Impression". As a seascape sketch, the entire picture is shrouded in thin gray tones, and the brushstrokes are very random and messy, showing a scene of mist blending. At sunrise, the sea is foggy, and the water reflects the colors of the sky and the sun. The scenery on the shore is vague and blurry, giving people a momentary feeling.