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Impressionism
19th-century art movement focused on light, color, and everyday scenes.

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Origins in Paris
Impressionism began in late 19th-century France when a group of painters rejected strict academic rules. They organized independent exhibitions after being refused by the official Salon.

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Focus on Light
Artists aimed to capture the changing effects of natural light. Instead of precise detail, they painted quick impressions of a moment, often outdoors (en plein air).

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Visible Brushstrokes
Paintings feature loose, visible brushwork. Forms are suggested rather than sharply defined, giving movement and immediacy to the scene.

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Modern Life
Subjects included cafés, streets, train stations, rivers, and leisure activities. Everyday contemporary life replaced historical or mythological themes.

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Color Over Line
Impressionists used bright, unmixed colors placed side by side to let the eye blend them. Shadows were often painted with blues and purples instead of black.

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Key Artists
Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, Berthe Morisot, and Alfred Sisley were central figures of the movement.

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Initial Criticism
The term “Impressionism” came from a critic mocking Monet’s painting “Impression, Sunrise.” The name was adopted by the artists.

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Lasting Influence
Impressionism paved the way for Post-Impressionism and modern art movements, shifting focus toward perception and subjective experience.