Impressionism
Impressionism emerged in Paris in the 1860s as a radical departure from the rigid conventions of the French Academy. Rather than polished, idealized scenes, Impressionist painters ventured outdoors — painting en plein air — to capture the transient effects of light on landscape, water, and everyday life. Loose, visible brushstrokes replaced smooth blending; pure colours placed side by side replaced careful mixing on the palette. The name was coined — dismissively — from Claude Monet's painting Impression, Sunrise after the group's first independent exhibition in 1874.
Defining characteristics
- En plein air (outdoor) painting
- Loose, visible brushwork
- Emphasis on natural light and its changing qualities
- Everyday modern subjects
- Pure, unmixed colours placed side by side
- Soft, blurred edges over hard contours
Landscape & Nature
Outdoor scenes capturing the play of light on water, fields, and sky.
Claude Monet
1840–1926 · Pioneer
The central figure of Impressionism, Monet devoted his career to capturing the effects of light and atmosphere across his famous series paintings — haystacks, Rouen Cathedral, and the iconic Water Lilies.
Impression, Sunrise (1872)
Oil on canvas · Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris
The painting that inadvertently named the movement.
Water Lilies (Nymphéas) (1906)
Oil on canvas · Art Institute of Chicago
One of a series of roughly 250 oil paintings depicting his flower garden.
Camille Pissarro
1830–1903 · Co-founder
The eldest of the Impressionists and the only one to exhibit in all eight Impressionist exhibitions. A mentor to both Cézanne and Gauguin.
Boulevard Montmartre at Night (1897)
Oil on canvas · National Gallery, London
One of his celebrated series of Parisian boulevard scenes.
Figures & Leisure
Scenes of modern urban and suburban life — cafés, dance halls, and racetracks.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
1841–1919 · Leading figure
Celebrated for his sensuous, light-filled depictions of people — particularly women and children — in settings of leisure and pleasure.
Luncheon of the Boating Party (1880–1881)
Oil on canvas · The Phillips Collection, Washington D.C.
A joyful scene of friends dining on a riverside restaurant terrace.
Edgar Degas
1834–1917 · Associated figure
Though aligned with the Impressionists, Degas preferred studio work and drew from classical influences. Famous for his ballet dancers, racehorses, and café scenes.
The Dance Class (1874)
Oil on canvas · Musée d'Orsay, Paris
One of many works depicting ballet rehearsals at the Paris Opéra.