Introduction
“Impressionism is at the root of all modern art, because it was the first movement that managed to free itself from preconceived ideas, and because it changed not only the way life was depicted but the way life was seen.”
- Franceso Salvi
Claude Monet
Impression, soleil levant
1872
Oil on canvas
48 x 63 cm (19 x 24 3/8")
Musee Marmottan, Paris
When impressionist paintings were first unveiled in late 19th century Paris, they were considered to be radical breaks from traditional paintings. Critics were shocked, some even outraged, at the loose brushworks and the supposed “unfinished” quality of the paintings. Impressionists, however, were not interested in the fine rendering of details, but wanted to create the effect of perceiving an entire scene in a single glance. Since then, impressionism has helped to influence many other art forms, as well as liberate the art world. Thus, this webpage is dedicated to exploring the techniques and colour effects of impressionism. Please enjoy!