1.
Vive la révolution!
the movement that set art free

2.
impressionism
A derogatory term used by an art critic when
describing Claude Monet’s painting Impression:
Sunrise

3.
But first ...
What gave rise to this revolution?
In the early 1800’s life was changing fast with
new industry, ideas of freedom in everything
and frustration with the old ways.
Modern life had arrived and nothing was sacred
anymore.

4.
old school rejected
Classical art styles had little to do with modern
life – nor the real world.

5.
the tyranny of the salons
National Academies controlled the art that was
exhibited at salons. Artists rejected from
salons could not make a living.
“It is high time that someone have the courage to be an honest
man and that he say that the academy is a harmful, all-
consuming institution, incapable of fulfilling the goal of its so
called mission”
Gustave Courbet

6.
salon of the rejected
In 1863 the rejected artists held their first exhibition. The
revolution had begun. The painting that shocked the
crowds...
Manet’s Le Dejeuner sur l’Herbe

7.
new opportunities
Now new markets opened for new artists. Art
dealers could promote new artists directly to
the public.
Fresh, exciting and controversial art added
new life to the art market.
Impressionism was no longer an insult, but
rather an open art form accepted by artists
and the public.

8.
art for the people
Impressionists painted real life
Modern lifestyles
Rural scenes
The fleeting moment
Light and air
and Colour.
All subjects were open for interpretation

9.
different approaches
Impressionists did not follow the same rules.
They painted in different styles, with different
materials, different subjects and went
their own way.
Free to explore

10.
Famous Impressionists
GALLERY

11.
Eduard Manet
the enfant terrible
Bar at the Folies-Bergere 1881

12.
Claude Monet
the giant of impressionism
Houses of Parliament

13.
Berthe Morisot
a woman who defied convention
Jeu De Paume, Paris

14.
Renoir
mixed tradition with modern methods
The Luncheon of the Boating Party, 1881

15.
Edgar Degas
brought new life to figure studies
The Dance Class

16.
Toulouse-Lautrec
Graphic art showing the underbelly of Paris life.
Modern commercial art was born.

17.
Some stood apart
Like Vincent Van Gogh

18.
Others tried new techniques
Like Seurat’s pointillism in Sunday Afternoon on the Ile de la Grande
Jatte

19.
and then Gauguin
Unique and full or symbolism:
Vision after the Sermon

20.
New directions: Paul Cezanne
The father of abstract art reduced shapes to cylinders, cones and
spheres
To open the way for Picasso and others to forge new paths.

21.
democratic art
change was widespread...
With innovations in the manufacture of paints
and the invention of the paint tube painting
became portable. Artists and hobbyists could
paint anywhere at any time en plein air or in
the studio.
Vive le révolution!

22.
thank you!
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