Impressionism is an art movement that emerged in the late 19th century in France. It is characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage of time), ordinary subject matter, inclusion of movement as a crucial element of human perception and experience, and unusual visual angles.
The term "Impressionism" is derived from the title of Claude Monet's painting Impression, Sunrise (Impression, soleil levant), which was exhibited in 1874 in the first of the Salon des Refusés. Critics initially used the term derisively, suggesting that the paintings were mere impressions rather than finished works, but the artists themselves embraced the label.
Impressionist painters rejected the rigid rules of academic painting, focusing instead on:
The Impressionists organized independent exhibitions to showcase their work, bypassing the traditional Paris Salon, which often rejected their paintings. The first of these exhibitions took place in 1874, marking the official birth of Impressionism as a recognized movement.
Impressionism's emphasis on light and movement paved the way for later movements like Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, and Cubism. Its influence extended beyond painting into music, literature, and film, where the term "Impressionism" is used to describe works that evoke mood and atmosphere rather than narrate a story.