Impressionism, an art movement that emerged between the 19th and 20th centuries, significantly transformed the landscape of visual art, particularly in the United States. Originating in Paris during the 1860s, with Claude Monet as its pioneering figure, Impressionism marked a departure from traditional artistic conventions and the rise of a new approach that challenged the realism of photography. Prominent artists like Camille Pissarro, Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas, and Renoir contributed to this movement, rejecting the rigid demands of public taste. The movement was characterized by its innovative approach to capturing light and color, with Impressionists employing scientific research to achieve a more nuanced representation of tonal values. They favored painting series of works in the same location under varying light conditions, focusing on the effects of natural light rather than adhering to the classical chiaroscuro technique. This style allowed for the creation of paintings with visible, choppy brush strokes, capturing fleeting moments of light and color, often painted en plein air (outdoors) rather than in studios. Impressionism, despite its initial public and critical resistance, initiated a profound change in art, introducing new techniques, subject matters, and color palettes that reflected the socio-political and ideological shifts of the time. This paper analyzes the contributions of three key artists – Louis Boudin, Claude Monet, and Edgar Degas – highlighting Monet’s revolutionary approach with his 1872 painting “Impression, Sunrise,” which gave the movement its name. Through these analyzes, the paper explores how Impressionism challenged the status quo and redefined artistic expression during this transformative period.

Keywords: Impressionism, landscapes, Natural Illumination, Claude Monet, Traditional Artistic

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1. Ansoff I. Strategies for diversification. Harvard Business Review. 1957 Sep-Oct;35(5):113–24.
2. Mendelsohn M, Dailey M. The purveyor of modern life. Art+Auction; 2009 Nov.
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7. Perrin P, Kisiel M, editors. Colours of impressionism: masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay. Singapore: National Gallery Singapore; 2018 Jan 31.
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9. Katz R, Dars C. The Impressionists handbook. Abbeydale Press; 1999. pp. 68, 98.
10. Marshall PK, Forrest PJ. A framework for identifying factors that influence fine art valuations from artist to consumers. Marketing Management Journal. 2011 Spring;21(1):111–23.

Impressionism, an art movement that emerged between the 19th and 20th centuries, significantly transformed the landscape of visual art, particularly in the United States. Originating in Paris during the 1860s, with Claude Monet as its pioneering figure, Impressionism marked a departure from traditional artistic conventions and the rise of a new approach that challenged the realism of photography. Prominent artists like Camille Pissarro, Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas, and Renoir contributed to this movement, rejecting the rigid demands of public taste. The movement was characterized by its innovative approach to capturing light and color, with Impressionists employing scientific research to achieve a more nuanced representation of tonal values. They favored painting series of works in the same location under varying light conditions, focusing on the effects of natural light rather than adhering to the classical chiaroscuro technique. This style allowed for the creation of paintings with visible, choppy brush strokes, capturing fleeting moments of light and color, often painted en plein air (outdoors) rather than in studios. Impressionism, despite its initial public and critical resistance, initiated a profound change in art, introducing new techniques, subject matters, and color palettes that reflected the socio-political and ideological shifts of the time. This paper analyzes the contributions of three key artists – Louis Boudin, Claude Monet, and Edgar Degas – highlighting Monet’s revolutionary approach with his 1872 painting “Impression, Sunrise,” which gave the movement its name. Through these analyzes, the paper explores how Impressionism challenged the status quo and redefined artistic expression during this transformative period.

Keywords: Impressionism, landscapes, Natural Illumination, Claude Monet, Traditional Artistic

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Ansoff I. Strategies for diversification. Harvard Business Review. 1957 Sep-Oct;35(5):113–24.
2. Mendelsohn M, Dailey M. The purveyor of modern life. Art+Auction; 2009 Nov.
3. Roque G. Impressionism. In: Encyclopedia of color science and technology. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2023 Sep 28. pp. 929–32.
4. Deming WE. Out of the crisis. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press; 1986.
5. Durrant N. Paul Durand-Ruel, the man who saved the impressionists. The Times. 2015 Feb [cited 2023 Oct]; Available from: thetimes.co.uk
6. Hirshman EC. Aesthetics, ideologies and the limits of the marketing concept. Journal of Marketing. 1983 Summer;47:45–55.
7. Perrin P, Kisiel M, editors. Colours of impressionism: masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay. Singapore: National Gallery Singapore; 2018 Jan 31.
8. Leuthold S. Light, color, interiority and the aesthetics of enchantment. In: The aesthetics of enchantment in the fine arts. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands; 2000. pp. 57–84.
9. Katz R, Dars C. The Impressionists handbook. Abbeydale Press; 1999. pp. 68, 98.
10. Marshall PK, Forrest PJ. A framework for identifying factors that influence fine art valuations from artist to consumers. Marketing Management Journal. 2011 Spring;21(1):111–23.