Impressionist works have been appreciated by the general public for centuries and are still popular today. They are the cornerstone of modern art history. The fascination and the extraordinary resonate in the artistic consciousness of people. Previously, they were regarded as banal objects without interest, but it was only 30 years later that the modern world was able to accept them as such. But what does the name impressionism mean?
To whom do we owe the name Impressionism?
Following Louis Leroy's criticism of Claude Monet's work of art in 1872, the name impressionism was born. Claude Monet titled his art painting "Impression, Sunrise". In 1860, under the influence of a renowned art teacher, Claude and his 3 companions began to enter the painting scene.
At that time, there was a state-organised event for famous painters only, some of whose works of art were rejected. Hence the name Salon des Refusés. From 1874 onwards, a very first dedicated exhibition for new paintings was organised, with the support of Monet and other popular painters, allowing them to exhibit their artwork.
What does the word impressionism mean?
The origin of the word impressionism begins in the 19th century by Louis Leroy under the influence of the critic of Claude Monet's painting "Impression, soleil levant" in an indirect way at the Salon des refusés. According to studies, 3,000 of the 5,000 paintings presented at this event were rejected. By definition, it is to go against or beyond realism. This can be art painting.
It is a mixture of tradition and culture combined with realistic artistic creation for an aesthetic result. At present, impressionist painters focus on painting the real world in a pictorial form. Shouldn't the word impressionism combine modernity and traditionalism?
Impressionism: what is its character?
Unlike academic painting, which focuses on drawing objects or scripted representation, impressionism is more realistic like ancient sculpture. Impressionist painting, on the other hand, focuses more on everything that is photographic. It can be the retranscription of a facial impression.
The impressionist painter is rather subjective in his works. The painted works are characterised by the use of high colours made from clearly visible brushes without passing either figure or drawing. Open-air paintings are part of an impressionist work.