Impressionism in Art History


Ivalee Keen

02-11-10



Impressionism was one of the many movements in French history that moved more than the people. I have come to believe it is one form of art that many others came to form. The topic I chose to do for my CSOs is Impressionism in history and how it affected modern day and people. The human eye is a marvelous instrument and it sees what it wants to see whether it’s a glorious painting made of dots or a simple water color. The term Impressionism is used to indicate a concern for cotemporary subject matter and a technique or organization that gives the impression of casualness.



The beginning of modern art in history was impressionism. Claude Monet, who exhibited a picture called “Impression: Sunrise” was the beginning of impressionism as well. Outraged critics took the word impressionism from Monet’s title and used it as a label when referring to bad art. Impressionism is described as an art style that tried to capture an impression of what the eye sees at a given moment and the effect of sunlight on the subject. Some of the major influences are Japanese prints because they had so much color, and Photography. The camera opened artist eyes to the possibilities of candid, or unposed, views of people. Snapshots showed familiar subjects from new and unusual points of view.



Some major artist from the impressionist time was Auguste Rodin, Edgar Degas, Gustave Caillebotte, and many more. Born to modest means on November 12, 1840, Francois-Auguste-Rene Rodin was the second child of Jean-Baptiste Rodin and Marie Cheffer. He was somewhat shy and very nearsighted, which proved a hindrance in his early academic work. He took a serious interest in drawing and had his first drawing lesson when he was ten years old. He was a very inspired man and loved what he did. I’m sure it wasn’t easy.



Edgar Degas is my favorite Impressionist of his time. He used vivid colors and explained his work with great imagination. He was French artist, acknowledged as the master of drawing the human figure in motion. Degas worked in many mediums, preferring pastel to all others. He is perhaps best known for his paintings, drawings, and bronzes of ballerinas and of race horses.



With the last brush stroke, I would like to say that Impressionism had a huge impact in history and made people think twice. It was hard living back then and I know I appreciate everything it has formed art to be in this modern day.