PoTD #7PoTD #7 ImpressionismImpressionism

Aka: I know, I know...you looooove Impressionism Aka: I know, I know...you looooove Impressionism :P:P

Monet Waterlilys [detail]Monet Waterlilys [detail]

Edgar Degas- Impressionists Edgar Degas- Impressionists BuddyBuddy In 1863 The Salon rejected 4000 paintings for the annual exhibition. The public felt screwed and artists were In 1863 The Salon rejected 4000 paintings for the annual exhibition. The public felt screwed and artists were

enraged. After Emperor Napoleon lll saw the rejected work he decided to have a new show to let the public enraged. After Emperor Napoleon lll saw the rejected work he decided to have a new show to let the public decide for themselves. It was called Salon des Refuses (Salon of the Refused). While many hoity-toity snotty decide for themselves. It was called Salon des Refuses (Salon of the Refused). While many hoity-toity snotty frenchies came out tofrenchies came out to laugh laugh at the paintings, many people went and saw a new exposure to the future of painting. at the paintings, many people went and saw a new exposure to the future of painting. Word spread and The Salon des Refuses' popularity brought in more bodies than the actual Salon. Word spread and The Salon des Refuses' popularity brought in more bodies than the actual Salon.

This made the country and the art establishment look pretty stupid, and while petitions were drawn up for a Salon This made the country and the art establishment look pretty stupid, and while petitions were drawn up for a Salon de Refuses in 1867 and 72, they were both rejected. So later on in 1973 a few chaps who painted under de Refuses in 1867 and 72, they were both rejected. So later on in 1973 a few chaps who painted under Charles Charles

GleyreGleyre organized their own organization so they could exhibit independently. These cats were Monet, Renoir, organized their own organization so they could exhibit independently. These cats were Monet, Renoir, Pissarro and Sisley. Later Cezanne, Morisot and Degas joined. Pissarro and Sisley. Later Cezanne, Morisot and Degas joined.

Manet was pals with the future Impressionists. Manet was pals with the future Impressionists. This painting was part of the Salon de Refuses. This painting was part of the Salon de Refuses. When it was rejected, the rejection came with When it was rejected, the rejection came with bitter insults. It wasn’t out of the ordinary to bitter insults. It wasn’t out of the ordinary to have a nude woman among men in a painting, have a nude woman among men in a painting, but it was shocking to have her in a genre scene but it was shocking to have her in a genre scene instead of some biblical or historical allegorical instead of some biblical or historical allegorical painting. Also, including her clothes in the painting. Also, including her clothes in the bottom of the painting put it over the top and the bottom of the painting put it over the top and the judges found it terribly obscene. Think “2 Girls judges found it terribly obscene. Think “2 Girls One Cup”. (if you don’t know what that is, don’t One Cup”. (if you don’t know what that is, don’t look it up at work!!!)look it up at work!!!)

Claude ManetClaude Manet Le Dejeuner sur l’Herbe (the picnic)Le Dejeuner sur l’Herbe (the picnic) Oil on canvasOil on canvas 84 1/4 x 106 1/4" 84 1/4 x 106 1/4" Musee d;Orsay, ParisMusee d;Orsay, Paris *clicky for picky*clicky for picky

‘‘Impression — I was Impression — I was certain of it. I was just certain of it. I was just telling myself that, since I telling myself that, since I was impressed, there had was impressed, there had to be some impression in it to be some impression in it … and what freedom, what … and what freedom, what ease of workmanship! ease of workmanship! Wallpaper in its embryonic Wallpaper in its embryonic state is more finished than state is more finished than that seascape. ‘that seascape. ‘

-Louis Leroy, douche-bag -Louis Leroy, douche-bag columnist and founder of the columnist and founder of the

term “Impressionist”term “Impressionist”

They are impressionists in They are impressionists in that they do not render a that they do not render a landscape, but the landscape, but the sensation produced by the sensation produced by the landscape. The word itself landscape. The word itself has passed into their has passed into their language: in the catalogue language: in the catalogue the Sunrise by Monet is the Sunrise by Monet is called not landscape, but called not landscape, but impression. Thus they take impression. Thus they take leave of reality and enter leave of reality and enter the realms of idealism."the realms of idealism."

-Jules-Antoine Castagnary, -Jules-Antoine Castagnary, Le Siècle, 29 April 1874Le Siècle, 29 April 1874

Claude MonetClaude Monet Impression, SunriseImpression, Sunrise (1872) (1872)

Musée Marmottan-Monet, ParisMusée Marmottan-Monet, Paris

Oil on canvas 19 x 24 3/8"Oil on canvas 19 x 24 3/8"

So the focus of the painting is the FEELING, the impression that you get when looking at a sunrise; not a true recording of what was going on there. No So the focus of the painting is the FEELING, the impression that you get when looking at a sunrise; not a true recording of what was going on there. No one did that before. one did that before.

The loose brushstrokes and unrefined finish of the painting made this work fodder for many brown-nosing close-minded sycophantic art critics. The loose brushstrokes and unrefined finish of the painting made this work fodder for many brown-nosing close-minded sycophantic art critics. This painting represents a gigantic turning point in art (and IMHO, one of the only not-that-gay impressionist paintings :P). I was going to put a Monet This painting represents a gigantic turning point in art (and IMHO, one of the only not-that-gay impressionist paintings :P). I was going to put a Monet quote in here about this painting, but it didn’t make any sense...at all.quote in here about this painting, but it didn’t make any sense...at all.

RenoirRenoir Impressionism was a movement in painting that was Impressionism was a movement in painting that was

signified by loose, thick brush strokes, vibrant colors, signified by loose, thick brush strokes, vibrant colors, landscapes and genre pieces, mainly done as plein air landscapes and genre pieces, mainly done as plein air paintings (it’s exactly what you think it is, I don’t paintings (it’s exactly what you think it is, I don’t know why they call it that). Monet was the rock star know why they call it that). Monet was the rock star of Impressionism. of Impressionism.

He wasn’t as into the pastel colors and cutesy He wasn’t as into the pastel colors and cutesy goddamn scenes that Renoir loved so much. I’ve goddamn scenes that Renoir loved so much. I’ve always found that Renoirs drawing skills were always found that Renoirs drawing skills were horrible and I detest his tentative brushwork, but he horrible and I detest his tentative brushwork, but he does have a pretty stellar grasp of light and shadow.does have a pretty stellar grasp of light and shadow.

Awwwwwwwwww!!!Awwwwwwwwww!!!

This is called This is called Girl With Girl With a Watering Cana Watering Can. I . I think it should be think it should be called “Precious Looks called “Precious Looks For Puppy Lumpkins”For Puppy Lumpkins”

Alfred SisleyAlfred Sisley Sisley was mainly a landscape painter. He was Sisley was mainly a landscape painter. He was

the most consistent of the Impressionists in this the most consistent of the Impressionists in this regard. Sisley’s contribution to Impressionism regard. Sisley’s contribution to Impressionism was his push for outdoor painting. In the past was his push for outdoor painting. In the past paintings were done, almost strictly in the paintings were done, almost strictly in the studio. Painting landscapes while in nature studio. Painting landscapes while in nature gave the pieces a vibrancy and livelihood that gave the pieces a vibrancy and livelihood that could only be done with direct observation. could only be done with direct observation. Also, this affected the colors and execution of Also, this affected the colors and execution of the paintings, since the suns movement the paintings, since the suns movement constantly changed the shape and intensity of constantly changed the shape and intensity of shadows, the reflection on bodies of water and shadows, the reflection on bodies of water and the colors of the sky.the colors of the sky.

Note how the brushstrokes define the Note how the brushstrokes define the water on the left water on the left

Bridge at Villeneuve-la-GarenneBridge at Villeneuve-la-Garenne (1872) (1872)Oil on canvasOil on canvas

Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYMetropolitan Museum of Art, NY

Moseley Weir, Hampton Court (1874)Moseley Weir, Hampton Court (1874)National Gallery of ScotlandNational Gallery of ScotlandOil on CanvasOil on Canvas

Camille PissarroCamille Pissarro Pissarro is known Pissarro is known

as the ‘Father of as the ‘Father of Impressionism’ Impressionism’ due to his loose due to his loose painting early in painting early in his career. He his career. He painted mainly painted mainly rural and urban rural and urban life around Paris. life around Paris.

Pissarro would Pissarro would receive an receive an allowance from allowance from his father which his father which turned out to be turned out to be majorly important majorly important for the for the Impressionists Impressionists who had difficulty who had difficulty buying paint and buying paint and food and would food and would regularly share regularly share brushes. brushes.

End.End. These are the main Impressionists aside from a focus on Monet (he gets his own day). These guys all helped define what These are the main Impressionists aside from a focus on Monet (he gets his own day). These guys all helped define what

Impressionism was and were all there for the opening exhibition. More Impressionists followed and had significant impacts on Impressionism was and were all there for the opening exhibition. More Impressionists followed and had significant impacts on art history, so we may need to stretch Impressionism out for 2 more days. Stay tuned!art history, so we may need to stretch Impressionism out for 2 more days. Stay tuned!

““Landscape is nothing but an impression, and an instantaneous one, hence this label that was given us, by the way Landscape is nothing but an impression, and an instantaneous one, hence this label that was given us, by the way because of me. I had sent a thing done in Le Havre, from my window, sun in the mist and a few masts of boats sticking because of me. I had sent a thing done in Le Havre, from my window, sun in the mist and a few masts of boats sticking up in the foreground....They asked me for a title for the catalogue, it couldn't really be taken for a view of Le Havre, and up in the foreground....They asked me for a title for the catalogue, it couldn't really be taken for a view of Le Havre, and I said: 'Put I said: 'Put ImpressionImpression.' [1].' [1]””

• -Monet, on -Monet, on Impression, SunriseImpression, Sunrise