IMPRESSIONISM

-c. 1870 - 1885

-Origin= France, spreads through Europe & to U. S.

-Salon des Refusés, 1863

-Impression:  Sunrise, Monet, 1874

-All began as Realists

            -natural color, solid forms

            -landscapes, outdoors

-light and color become subject matter

-instant impression--a momentary glimpse of nature

-visual effects of color appearing at a moment

-not detailed analysis of color/surfaces

            -pure color

-spontaneous, instant glimpse

-optical effects

-modern subject matter, leisure class activities

-"revolution of the color patch"           

            -minimized shading, modeling, perspective

            -downplayed role of Renaissance "window" view

                        -recognized the flat painted surface

            -rejected idealistic interpretation of subject matter

            -SEE:  Monet (central Impressionist painter)

 -the illusion of forms bathed in light/atmosphere

            -affected by studies of light, new colors developed for painters

            -objects affected by quality of light

            -painted effects of sunlight on objects

            -solid forms lose some solidity

-short, choppy brushstrokes

            -use of pure colors, many primary

                        -blues, violets used instead of grays, blacks, browns\

                        -optical mixing of colors

            -dabs, dashes, spots of intense color

            -smooth canvases replaced by rich texture

 

SCULPTURE

-Auguste Rodin adopted Impressionism to his sculpting techniques

            -redefined sculpture

-brought monumental public sculpture into the modern era

-expressionistic

            -goal= render inner feelings through muscular movement

            -his surfaces capture light much like dabs of paint

                        -surface vibrates

                        -SEE:  The Thinker;  Burghers of Calais

-Visit-- http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/rodin/

to see some of Rodin's works