IWT1 Task 1

Impressionism and Post Impressionism
By WGU student

In early 19th century, the French government controlled the academies and salons of paintings. The impressionism took place in second half of 19th century, which was results of French artists rejecting the traditional government sanctioned academic painting that was dominating their arts at the time. The first independent art exhibition was held in 1874 for one month. Few of the famous artists’ who participated and help organize this exhibition was Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, Pierre-Auguste Renior, Edgar Degas and Camille Pissarro along with 25 other artists. They displayed approximately 165 paintings during this exhibit. This group of artists referred themselves as the Anonymous Society of Painters, Engravers, Sculptors, etc.
The artists from Impressionism period intentionally painted which captured the nuances of light and beauty of natures. These artists were against painting a picture of moral messages, as the artists of past they mostly painted in studio. Impressionist had very firm understating of color theory, optics, nature of light, and optical mixing (created much more vivid colors in the eyes of the viewers). The invention of photography had profound influence on the artist of the day, the way they handle perspective in the relationship between subject matters in space. The invention of photography essentially freed these painters to become more abstract with their subject matter, they were all about light and colors, they also had better and more sophisticated pigments therefore their painting were more saturated in colors. The artists also made every effort to capture the transitory atmospheric effects in their painting. The impressionist preferred and enjoyed working directly from nature.
During 19th century many social changes were taking place which gave rise to