Impressionism Notes

The name 'Impressionism' comes from a sarcastic review by Louis Leroy of Monet's painting, 'Impression, Sunrise' (1873). Impressionism was a style of painting that used a more scientific analysis of colour to capture the effects of light in nature. The main artists associated with Impressionism were Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Edgar Degas, Alfred Sisley and Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec.

The Impressionists painted with small strokes of pure colours which mixed in the eye of the spectator when viewed from a distance. The Impressionists were the first group of artists to embrace painting 'en plein air' (painting outside). The Impressionists had to paint quickly to capture the atmosphere of a particular time of day or the effects of different weather conditions on the landscape. The speed of the Impressionists' painting technique forced them to sacrifice accurate line and detail in favour of atmospheric effect. The subject most suited to the Impressionist technique was landscape, but they also painted portraits, still lifes and figure compositions. Impressionist compositions were strongly influenced by the development of photography and the discovery of Japanese woodcuts. Impressionism is now seen as the first movement in modern art, and had a huge influence on the development of art in the 20th century.

Post Impressionism Notes

The Post Impressionists were a few independent artists at the end of the 19th century who rebelled against the limitations of Impressionism to develop a range of personal styles that influenced the development of art in the 20th century. The art of Paul Gauguin was a major influence in the development of Fauvism The art of Vincent Van Gogh was an influence on Expressionism in the 20th century. The art of Paul Czanne was an influence on the Cubists at the start of the 20th century. The analytical method of Seurat's Pointillism influenced those artists who adopted more calculated approach to painting, particularly in the development of abstract art.

Fauvism Notes
Fauvism was a style of painting developed in France at the beginning of the 20th century by Henri Matisse and Andr Derain. The artists who painted in this style were known as 'Les Fauves'. The title 'Les Fauves' (the wild beasts) came from a sarcastic remark by the art critic Louis Vauxcelles. Les Fauves believed that colour should be used to express the artist's feelings about a subject, rather than simply to describe what it looks like. Fauvist paintings have two main characteristics: simplified drawing and exaggerated colour. Les Fauves were a great influence on the German Expressionists.

Expressionism Notes
Expressionism is a style of art that is highly charged with an emotional or spiritual vision of the world The 'self expression' in the art of Vincent Van Gogh and Edvard Munch inspired Expressionist artists in the 20th century. German Expressionism also drew inspiration from German Gothic and 'primitive art'. German Expressionism was divided into two factions: Die Brcke and Der Blaue Reiter

Die Brcke (The Bridge) was an artistic community of young Expressionist artists in Dresden. Their aim was to overthrow the conservative traditions of German art. Their 'bridge' was a path to a new and better future for German art. Der Blaue Reiter was a publication of essays on the Expressionist art forms. The aim of Der Blaue Reiter exhibitions was to find the common creative ground between these diverse art forms.

After the various Expressionist groups disbanded, Expressionism spread and evolved in the work of many individual artists across the world.

Cubism Notes
Cubism was invented around 1907 in Paris by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Cubism was the first abstract style of modern art. A Cubist painting ignores the traditions of perspective drawing and shows you many views of a subject at one time. The Cubists introduced collage into painting. The Cubists were influenced by art from other cultures, particularly African masks. There are two distinct phases of the Cubist Style: Analytical Cubism (pre 1912) and Synthetic Cubism (post 1912) Cubism influenced many other styles of modern art including Orphism, Futurism, Vorticism, Suprematism, Constructivism and Expressionism.

Pop Art Notes

Pop Art was a brash, young and fun art movement of the 1960's. Pop Art coincided with the globalization of Pop Music and youth culture. Pop Art included different styles of painting and sculpture but all had a common interest in mass-media, mass-production and mass-culture. Although Pop Art started in Britain, its is essentially an American movement. Pop art was strongly influence by the ideas of the Dada movement.

Pop Art in America was a reaction against Abstract Expressionism. The art of Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg is seen as a bridge between Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. The artist who personifies Pop Art more than any other is Andy Warhol. Warhol's paintings of Marilyn Monroe are the most famous icons of Pop Art. Roy Lichtenstein developed an instantly recognizable style of Pop Art inspired by the American comic strip. Claes Oldenburg was the greatest sculptor of the Pop Art movement, creating many large scale public works.