Today, Impressionism is arguably art lovers’ most beloved painting style. Yet, it is derided by contemporaneous art critics and art historians who label it “eye candy art,” without having any sociopolitical engagement, and therefore as current criticism goes, without any artistic merit. It was not very different in 1874 when the movement was launched in France.
Artists such as Monet, Manet and Courbet questioned the long-established hierarchy of subject matter. They believed that landscapes and scenes of contemporary life were also worthy and important — besides historical paintings which sat at the top of the subjects. The artists also denied other academic tenets, such as the then-accepted art movement that postulated that paintings should only be made indoors and have a finished appearance.
On the other hand, the main characteristics of Impressionism — the brainchild of French artist Claude Monet (1840-1926) — were outdoor painting “en plein air,” loose brushstrokes, vivid colors and scenes from modern life. French Impressionism debuted officially in 1874 in Paris at the inaugural “Exhibition of Impressionist Artists.” The name of the movement originated with a particular painting by Monet, “Impressions, Sunrise” (1872), which captures a fleeting morning moment at Le Havre, France harbor.
The painter used loose brushstrokes, benefiting from natural light and atmosphere change during the day creating an “impression” of that moment. Lack of sociop.