Impressionism

Impressioniam began in France in the mid 1800s. The impressionists were considered to be rebelious and were unpopular at first becasue their approach to painting was very different. At the time, paintings were done in a very traditional way, following a rigid formula. Paintings were done in art studios, over long periods of time, with specific details, and were often portraits or paintinds of historic events.

Here are a few paintings done //before// Impresionism. Notice the smooth detail and dramatic style. Cupid with a Butterfly, 1888 Adolphe-William Bougereau || Napolean Crossing the Alps, 1805 Jaques Luois-David, French || Princess de Broglie, 1851-1853 Jen-August-Dominique Ingres, French ||
 * [[image:cupidbutterfly.jpg width="180" height="316"]]

The impressionists had a different approach. The often painted outdoors, and wanted to show the immediate effects of light and color at certain times of the day. They used short, quick bruskstrokes that resulted in much a much looser look. Notice how the paintings below have less detail, but more expression and movement than the paintings above...

//[|Woman with a Parasol]// (Madame Monet with her Son),1875 Claude Monet || [|Artist's Garden at Veteuil], 1880 Claude Monet || [|Two Sisters on the Terrace], 1881 Pierre Auguste Renoir, French || || The Bridge, 1871 Alfred Sisley, French || [|The Dance Class] Edgar Degas, French ||  || //[|Young Mother Sewing]//, 1900 Mary Cassatt, American || Children on the Beach Mary Cassatt, American ||
 * Claude Monet is one of the most celebrated painters of all time, yeat his work was very contoversial at the time. He worked outside, capturing light and color as it changed over time, and often repainted the same scenes at different times of day and in different seasons. He preferred outdoor scenes, landscapes, gardens, etc., and worked from direct observation. ||
 * [[image:madamemonet.jpg width="292" height="360" link="http://www.nga.gov/fcgi-bin/tinfo_f?object=61379"]]
 * Pierre August Renoir is known for his soft, glowing paintings that capture the effects of light and color. He is known for his scenes of French life: the cafes, theatre, opera, picnics, parks, etc. He painted outdoors, from direct observation, and beleived that it is esential to capture the true light and color of a subject. ||
 * [[image:twosisters.jpg width="308" height="383" link="http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/resource/81"]]
 * || [[image:thebridge.jpg width="330" height="279"]]
 * Edgar Degas is famous for his paintings of dancers and horses, but also painted portraits and scenes of Parisian life. Degas sands out from other Impressionists because he sought to capture motion and emotion, rather than focusing purely on color and light, and always worked indoors from live models. ||
 * [[image:dancelesson.jpg width="293" height="315"]]
 * Mary Cassatt is the most famous female Impressionist and the most famous American Impressionist. She spent most of her career in France, and is known for her intimate scenes of women, children, and family life. ||
 * [[image:youngmother.jpg width="315" height="396" link="http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/cast/ho_29.100.48.htm"]]

Art III Assignment 1: Look at all of the paintings on this page, and choose one to study in depth. Complete the Art Analasis Activity and post your answers the the following questions: -When you compare Impressionist artwork to the artwork that came before it, what are the first things you notice? Name three differences. -Why do you think that Impressionist work was so unpopular and considered so rebelious at the time? -In your chosen painting, describe what you see in terms of composition, color, line, etc. -What do you think the artist was trying to capture in this painting? -What do you like about this painting?

Art III: Assignment 2: View Power Point for Impressionism assignment here: Choose one artist whose style you particulary like. Create an impressionist style work of art that emmulates that artist's style, but you may choose your own subject matter. Your focus will be -capturing the essence of the subject, -making loose, expressive marks -using composition, light, and color effectively

Artist Study Links:

[|Impressionism], overview by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, __ Artchive __

Mary Cassatt Life and work, Interesting Facts and Quotes, Drawings and Prints, __ Artchive __at CGFA,

Edgar Degas: Interesting Facts and Qotes, Painting and Drawing, __ Artchive, __at [|CGFA]

Monet: Bio at the Met, Interesting Facts and Quotes, __ Artchive, __at CGFA

Renoir: [|Renoir], Chicago Institute of Art, Interesting Facts and Quotes, __ Artchive, __at CGFA