Question

The work of French Impressionists are among the most recognizable in the world. What were they trying to convey about their world and why is their work considered the beginning of modern painting?

Have you learned something more about them, their techniques, and subject matter that surprised you?

Answer 1

The work of French Impressionists majorly emphasized on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities, ordinary subject matter, the inclusion of movement as a crucial element of human perception and experience, and unusual visual angles. They tried conveying the art of impression and its influence on human beings. They showed us how art can bring an impression of romance, freedom etc. The Impressionists sought to capture the optical effects of light to convey the passage of time, changes in weather, and other shifts in the atmosphere in their canvases. Their art did not necessarily rely on realistic depictions.
They had been using various techniques. To name a few:

• Short, thick strokes of paint quickly capture the essence of the subject, rather than its details.
• Colors were applied side-by-side with as little mixing as possible, a technique that exploits the principle of simultaneous contrast to make the color appear more vivid to the viewer.
• Grays and dark tones were produced by mixing complementary colors. Pure impressionism avoids the use of black paint.
• Wet paint is placed into wet paint without waiting for successive applications to dry, producing softer edges and intermingling of color.
• Impressionist paintings do not exploit the transparency of thin paint films (glazes), which earlier artists manipulated carefully to produce effects. The impressionist painting surface is typically opaque.
  Few more includes -
  The artists’ loose brushwork gives an effect of spontaneity and effortlessness that masks their often carefully constructed compositions.
  In addition to their radical technique, the bright colors of Impressionist canvases were shocking for eyes accustomed to the more sober colors of an academic painting. Many of the independent artists chose not to apply the thick golden varnish that painters customarily used to tone down their works. The paints themselves were more vivid as well.