Impressionism

Impressionism is an art movement that originated in the late 19th century, primarily in France. It marked a significant shift in artistic style from the more formal, realistic depictions typical of the time, such as those found in the academic art of the Salon in Paris. The term "Impressionism" was derived from a painting by Claude Monet titled "Impression, Sunrise", which was an early exemplar of the style.

Impressionist artists sought to capture the sensory effects or the 'impression' of a scene, especially in terms of light and color, rather than providing a detailed, realistic rendering. They painted "en plein air" (outdoors) to observe the landscape directly and to better depict variations of light and color due to different times of day or changing weather.

The key characteristics of Impressionism include:

1. Visible brush strokes: Impressionist paintings often feature short, "broken" brush strokes that are loosely mixed to allow the canvas to show through and add to the sense of vibrancy and movement.
2. Emphasis on light: One of the most notable characteristics of Impressionism is the focus on how light affects color and the overall scene. Artists often painted at different times of day to capture changing shadows and lighting.
3. Movement: Impressionists sought to depict motion as a crucial element of human perception and experience.
4. Ordinary subject matter: Instead of grand historical or religious themes, Impressionists focused on scenes from contemporary life, landscapes, and portraits.
5. Unusual visual angles: Inspired by photography, which was a new medium at the time, Impressionists often depicted scenes from unusual visual angles.

The Impressionist movement was not only confined to painting but also had significant impacts on music and literature. In music, it influenced composers like Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel to create compositions that focused on mood, atmosphere, and tone color. In literature, it led to a style of writing that sought to capture fleeting feelings or the impression of a moment, with authors like Virginia Woolf and James Joyce being influenced by its ideas.

Impressionism was succeeded by various movements such as Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, and the various forms of Modernism, but its influence has continued to be felt in many areas of art and culture.