50 Impressionist Paintings that Changed Art Forever
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From the 1860s, a group of young avant-garde artists in Paris forged an entirely new style of painting, one that came to be known as impressionism. In this gallery, we present 50 paintings that made a major contribution to changing both the conservative art world and public taste so that artistic conventions could be broken by artists now free to express themselves as they wished. From Claude Monet to Paul Gauguin, these men and women, chose new subjects, colours, and techniques to create an art style that remains one of the most popular ever produced anywhere.
I wanted to make of impressionism something strong and enduring, like the art of the museums.
An 1862 oil on canvas painting, Music in the Tuileries Gardens, by Edouard Manet (1832-83), the French modernist painter. This work has often been called the first modern painting since it broke the artistic convention that artists avoided contemporary people in everyday scenes. Fashionable, real-life figures like the composer Jacques Offenbach and poet Charles Baudelaire are captured in a bustling outdoor panorama, but there was still a nod to the Old Masters in the epic scope of the scene. The critics, not for the first time, were outraged by Manet's choice and treatment of the subject. (National Gallery, London)
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Questions & Answers
How did Impressionism change the art world?
Impressionism changed the art world because it changed the focus to everyday subjects rather than religious and mythological ones. Impressionist painters also used brighter colours and focussed on capturing momentary scenes of light or human activity.
What is the most famous Impressionist painting?
Today, probably the most famous impressionist painting is Water Lilies by Claude Monet.
Which Impressionist went blind?
Claude Monet was an impressionist painter who almost went blind. His sight deteriorated so much he could not distinguish colours or shapes for his work without special glasses and, eventually, an operation.
What changes did post impressionist paintings show?
Post-Impressionist paintings made changes to impressionism, chiefly adding more symbolism and the more dramatic use of contrasting colours,
License & Copyright
Based on Wikipedia content that has been reviewed, edited, and republished.
Original image by National Gallery, London. Uploaded by Mark Cartwright, published on 11 March 2022. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Public Domain. This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.
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