Impressionism

Impressionism is a 19th century art movement that began as a loose art movement with painting. This originated with a group of Paris based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s. The scientific discoveries and inventions of the 19th century had an important influence on the way painters worked. New research encouraged artists to experiment with complementary colours.

Impressionist painting characteristics include relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities ( often accentuating the effects of the passage of time), ordinary subject matter, inclusion of movement as a crucial element of human perception and experience, and unusual visual angles. 

This movement has effected other people such as writers, fashion designers and music composers.

One of the main artists that emerged during this movement was Claud Monet (1840 - 1926). He was a French impressionist based artist and the most consistent and prolific practitioner of the movement's philosophy of expressing one's perceptions before nature. The term "Impressionism" is derived from the title of his painting Impression, soleil levant (Impression Sunrise) which was exhibited in 1874 in the first of the independent exhibitions. Monet is known for many paintings but most famously for 'Water Lillies' 'The Beach At Travaille' 'Impression Sunrise' 'Poppies' 'Wheatstacks'. 

Another French impressionist was Paul Cézanne (1839 - 1906). Cézanne's often repetitive, exploratory brushstrokes are highly characteristic and clearly recognizable. He used planes of colour and small brushstrokes that build up to form complex fields. The paintings convey Cézanne's intense study of his subjects. He also uses open composition and also drew many still lifes. Like Monet Cézanne also works and paints from nature, however he also painted using watercolour and also painted portraits. 

Some of his art work includes 'The Black Marble Clock' 'Bend In The Road Through The Forest' 'The Basket Of Apples' 'Self Portrait'. 

Pierre August Renoir (1841 - 1919) was also a French Impressionist artist. Renoir's paintings are notable for their vibrant light and saturated color, most often focusing on people in intimate and candid compositions. The female nude was one of his primary subjects. In characteristic Impressionist style, Renoir suggested the details of a scene through freely brushed touches of color, so that his figures softly fuse with one another and their surroundings. He did many of his painting onto oil canvas but also many portraits. Some of his art work include 'Bal du moulin de la Galette' (Dance at Le moulin de la Galette) ' The Theatre Box'. 

Edgar Degas (1834 - 1917) was another French impressionist artist. He was famous for his paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings. He is especially identified with the subject of dance, more than half of his works depict dancers. He is regarded as one of the founders of impressionism, although he rejected the term, preferring to be called a realist.  Some of his art work include 'The Bellelli Family' 'Dance Class'. 

Some of Renoir's sculptures also include 'Little Dancer Of Fourteen Years' 'The Spanish Dance'. 

The Renaissance Period

The Renaissance was a period of European History at the end of the Middle Ages and the rise of the Modernist World, during the 14th century through to the 17th. It started as a cultural movement in Italy in the late Medieval Period. It's intellectual basis was humanism, derived from the rediscovery of classical Greek philosophy.

During the Renaissance there were many famous artists that rose such as Sandro Botticelli (1445 - 1510). He was a Italian printer and painter. Botticelli painted portraits and religious subjects like the pannels of Madonna and churches, most famous one was the Sistine Chapel. He created many paintings, some of most famous work includes 'The Birth Of Venus' 'Feast Of Gods' ' Madonna With Lillies And Eight Angels'.

Another well known artist was Leonardo Da Vinci (1452 - 1519) He was also a Italian artist, but was famous for other areas of work. Other than being a painter Da Vinchi was also a sculptor, architect, engineer and a scientist. His most famous art pieces include 'The Last  Supper' 'The Mona Lisa'. 'The Mona Lisa' is one of the worlds most famous paintings due to the mysterious smile upon the woman's face. Many theories have been made for this particular piece one saying that the woman in the painting is actually the artist himself. Due to the fact the woman has big hands and also a line across the top of her head suggesting a wig line.   

Another artist from this period is Jan Van Eyck (1385 - 1441 ). He was a great Neverlandish painter of the late Middle Ages. He painted both secular and religious subject matter paintings including commissioned portraits and also oil paintings. He worked on paneles singular and multiple. Van Eyck's most famous painting was ' The Arnolfini Wedding' he also painted portraits of the Virgin Mary. 

 

Finally another well known artist was Michelangelo (1475 - 1564) he was an Italian artist but also was a sculptor, architect, poet and engineer or the high Renaissance who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western Art. His most famously work is the 'Statue Of David' 'Pietà' and also the painting on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Michelangelo also paints with a religious matter like his painting 'The Creation Of Adam' on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.