Impressionism

Impressionism was an art movement during the 1870s and 1880s. It was completely new style in art. Bright colours freely brushed on canvas broke the academic rules of painting during 19th century. Impressionists concentrated on light, everyday life, weather and atmosphere. Also they started to work outside, while other painters painted in studios.

Beginnings of the impressionism started with the Academie des Beaux-Arts which dominated the art scene during the 19th century. It was a powerful institution which could make artists famous and rich or unknown and hated. Artists whose work was kept in traditional style showing religious, historical or landscape themes had the approval of the academy, and their work had been shown in the Salon de Paris during the annual art show. Others, like Edouard Manet, Claude Monet or Pierre-Auguste Renoir, with more controversial themes or techniques had been rejected.

In 1863, Emperor Napoleon III saw the rejected works and established Salon des Refuses as he thought people have the right to see different painting as well. Now rejected painters could show their work there.

One of the most popular impressionist paintings is probably Impression, Sunrise by Claude Monet, which Impressionism name was driven from. Louis Leroy, who was an art critic, wrote an article in Le Harivari newspaper and entitled it The Exhibition of Impressionists inspired by the painting's name.

It was painted using oil paints on canvas in 1872. What I like about this picture is amazing use of colour. The artist did not payed much attention to the details but concentrated on the expressing the atmosphere, tones and the mood during the sunrise.

One of my favourite Impressionist paintings is Branch of the Seine near Giverny, also painted by Claude Monet. It was painted on canvas using oil paints in 1897.

I really like the way that Monet captured the trees and the reflections on them. You can see rather loose brush strokes when you look closley but when you move back it all comes together creating this fantastic landscape. I also like the depth - the trees further away are blurry, which makes the picture more convincing and gives a little realistic taste.

Another painting of my favourites is Garden Path in Rueil by Edouard Manet, painted in 1882 again using oil paints on canvas.

The reason why I like this one is the way that the artists captured the light and the shadows. Again, picture was painted freely, with many loose brush strokes giving very nice impression of leaves and shadows casted by them. Also, you clearly see where light hits the leaves.