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The Rise of Impressionism

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In the late 19th century, a group of Paris-based artists rebelled against the strict standards of the Académie des Beaux-Arts. The Academy preferred carefully finished images that looked realistic and often depicted historical or mythological subjects. In contrast, this new group sought to capture the immediate "impression" of a moment, prioritizing light and color over line and form.

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A key characteristic of this style was painting en plein air (outdoors). Artists like Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir wanted to capture the fleeting and changing qualities of natural light. They used short, broken brushstrokes of pure, unmixed color. When viewed from a distance, these strokes blended in the viewer's eye to create a vibrancy not seen in traditional studio paintings.

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The movement got its name from Monet's 1872 painting, Impression, Sunrise. A critic, Louis Leroy, used the term "Impressionist" satirically in a newspaper review to mock the work, implying it was merely a sketch and not a completed piece of art. However, the artists embraced the term and adopted it as the official name of their movement.

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Unlike classical paintings, Impressionists focused on modern life. They painted landscapes, bustling city streets, and ordinary leisure activities. This shift in subject matter was just as revolutionary as their technique, marking the beginning of Modern Art.