Art history: Understanding impressionism – Part 7

Many have seen the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” What some may not remember is that there is a classic scene of how to view an impressionist painting in this film! One of the characters is shown standing close to an impressionist painting, then further away and the even further away.

This is a wonderful way to look at impressionism, but I recommend the reverse. Start far off and allow the impression of the work to wash over you. Notice the light, the shapes and the details. Then, as you move forward, you will see that the distinct shapes and reflections that you could discern are actually the suggestions of shapes and reflections. This is impressionism.

Impressionism got its start in the late 19th century. It began in France, but in later years, American Impressionism began with the likes of Mary Cassat and Childe Hassam. The French movement was of course begun by Monet, Sisley and Renoir.

Impressionism deals primarily with light and its behavior. Single brush strokes using primary colors are used to show the movement, reflection and behavior of light with the world around it. Artists usually painted outdoors, and their work is not necessarily of what was actually there, but actually represented the artists’ perception of what was there. Thus: Impressionism shows the artists’ impressions of the world around them.

With this understanding, one is better equipped to deal with critiques such as “But it’s just a bunch of random brushstrokes!” Indeed. It is brushstrokes, but very much not random. There is a beauty, a harmony, an interaction in those brushstrokes. There is a freedom of expression allowed by Impressionism that was not really accepted until this movement broke out.

Claude Monet’s spectacular series of waterlily paintings are perfect examples of Impressionism. From afar, the colors are blended and lively and the details are quite distinct. However, as you move closer, you see that the borders of the lilies are not single lines, but rather primary colors interacting in a dizzying display of skill with the brush.

Finally, Impressionism did not stop with painting. Musicians such as DeBussy experimented with impressionistic principles in music. This is perhaps the greatest benefit that the world has gained from this movement! Impressionism freed the entire artistic world from stodgy realism and allowed artists the space to truly express their vision.