Impressionism

Impressionism was a major artistic movement which originated in France in the 1870s. To define impressionism is difficult, because its characteristics are similar to those of other movements that flourished at around the same time. In general, Impressionism had an extreme attention to the transient effects of light and atmosphere. This movement is characterized by a naturalistic style, short lengths, and loose brush strokes that convey the sensation of the moment when the view being painted was observed (hence its name); they are not concerned with details or clear outlines. Impressionist artists had a very specific set of goals, and one of these was to change the standards by which artworks were valued. The Impressionists viewed their paintings as mere visual expressions of the energy in nature that they have experienced. They wanted their viewers to feel that they participated in the creation of such works. Impressionists were more concerned with the simplification of value relations and colors than with detailed, naturalistic portrayals. Simplification of line and color can be found in many paintings by Monet, Manet and Renoir. The Impressionists also attempted to give their work a sense of immediacy and spontaneity. They did not want their paintings to look contrived or premeditated, so they sought to make the viewer feel that he was actually in the presence of the subject being depicted.