Image Gallery
The Railway Station by Manet
An 1872-3 oil on canvas painting, The Railway Station, by Edouard Manet (1832-83), the French modernist painter. Another of Manet's puzzles. The station itself (Paris' Gare St. Lazare) is not shown here at all, only the steam from the trains. The two female figures seem disconnected. The work is an example of Manet’s drift towards the style that would later become known as symbolism – a rejection of realism for more humble subjects presented in a way that provoked the imagination and emotion of the viewer. The work was exhibited in the 1874 Paris Salon. (National Gallery of Art, Washington)
Bibliography
- Bouruet-Aubertot, Veronique. The Complete Book of Impressionism . Ji Mu Wen Hua, 2020.
- Howard, Michael. Encyclopedia of Impressionism. Thunder Bay Pr, 1997.
- Rubin, James H & Lablanche, Dominique & Manss, Thomas. Impressionism A&I . Phaidon Press, 1999.
- Thomson, Belinda. Impressionism. Thames & Hudson, 2022.
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,