Impressionist More Art
Emerging in 19th-century France, Impressionist art embraced loose brushwork and plein-air painting to respond to the movement of daily life. Although the pioneers of the Impressionist movement — Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Paul Cézanne, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir — are now household names, their work was a radical break with an art scene led and shaped by academic traditions for around two centuries. These academies had oversight of a curriculum that emphasized formal drawing, painting and sculpting techniques and historical themes.
The French Impressionists were influenced by a group of artists known as the Barbizon School, who painted what they witnessed in nature. The rejection of pieces by these artists and the later Impressionists from the salons culminated in a watershed 1874 exhibition in Paris that was staged outside of the juried systems. After a work of Monet’s was derided by a critic as an unfinished “impression,” the term was taken as a celebration of their shared interest in capturing fleeting moments as subject matter, whether the shifting weather on rural landscapes or the frenzy of an urban crowd. Rather than the exacting realism of the academic tradition, Impressionist paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings represented how an artist saw a world in motion.
Many Impressionist painters were inspired by the perspectives in imported Japanese prints alongside these shifts in European painting — Édouard Manet drew on ukiyo-e woodblock prints and depicted Japanese design in his Portrait of Émile Zola, for example. American artists such as Mary Cassatt and William Merritt Chase, who studied abroad, were impacted by the work of the French artists, and by the late 19th century American Impressionism had its own distinct aesthetics with painters responding to the rapid modernization of cities through quickly created works that were vivid with color and light.
Find a collection of authentic Impressionist art on 1stDibs.
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Golden light bathes a serene woodland scene. Soft, muted hues blend seamlessly, while subtle textures hint at the depth within the trees. The tonal palette and ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A mother and her child strike their camp for higher ground as the tide comes in with the occasional rogue wave. Artist Onelio Marrero and his wife live near the...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
This painting depicts a quiet forest with a central pool of water, its surface reflecting the surrounding greenery. Subtle shifts of light create a sense of dep...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A moored tugboat commands a harbor scene. Its green hull anchors it firmly against the hazy shoreline of Sturgeon Bay, while the red upper structure rises wit...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Faye Vander Veer creates a warm restaurant interior with ambient lighting and muted colors. She emphasizes more detail in the areas of interest while k...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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On a beautiful sunny morning, sunlight strikes the corner of a quiet stone house. A palm tree rises on the side, its fronds casting delicate shadows across the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Onelio Marrero visited a place in New Jersey called The Grounds For Sculpture. The gardens there are replete with exotic flora and fauna. Overlapping the...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Gray and orange tones spread across the sky and water, framing two fishermen at dawn. The sun, hidden behind clouds, cast a hint of light on the lake. The pair ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Water lilies float serenely on a pond, their pink blossoms contrasting with the green foliage. Sunlight dances across the scene, reflecting in shimmering patc...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Sailboats rest on dry docks in Easton, Maryland, basking in the sunlight. Their masts create sharp vertical lines against the blue sky. Bold brushstrokes highli...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Wildflowers sway with the sea breeze, their vibrant petals complementing the blueness of the sky and water. Painted en plein air, artist Lisa Elley captures t...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A figure, viewed from above, confronts an overwhelming mass of books, echoing the anxieties about the saturation of information in contemporary society. The sce...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A country house stands solitary in an overgrown field, with traces of time passing evident in its exterior. The grass dances with the wind as the summer sky g...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Muted grays and warm earth tones come together in this atmospheric scene, capturing the quiet pause that follows a rainfall. Expressive brushstrokes and layered...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Karen d'Angeac Mihm captures a quiet moment on her family's property in upstate New York. Sunlight illuminates a red barn, revealing weathered wood wit...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Lush green lily pads and pink water lilies float calmly on a pond. Gentle ripples reflect the early morning sunlight, with the mist adding to the glow. Painte...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Three children show quiet determination as they dig for sand dollars during low tide. Their curiosity and focus bring wonder to the coastal scene. Energetic str...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A crescent moon casts a gentle glow over a group of small birds perched on two parallel wires. The gold leaf on their wings catches the light, twinkling when ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Large pink peonies bloom, their bright yellow stamens adding a vibrant contrast. Deep green leaves curl around each blossom, enhancing their lush beauty. Painte...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
1930s Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
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Bluebonnets bloom in a tranquil Texan meadow beneath a soft, sunny sky. Vibrant shades of green and blue fill the foreground, bringing the wildflowers to life. ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A pond beneath trees catches shifting sunlight, creating a dappled pattern across its surface. Ducks and koi fish move through the scene, adding a sense of life...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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This painting portrays one of the paths at the Glendalough Monastery in Ireland. The concealed monastery hosts numerous ruins of chapels and burial sites, wit...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Late 19th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Palm and oak trees create a vibrant forest scene. The sun filters through the foliage and casts dappled light on the ground. Bright reds and yellows highlight...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A goldfinch balances on a sunflower head. Its brilliant yellow-green features contrast with the flowers' warm tones, while the gradient purple background comple...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Fiery clouds drift across the sky, creating a mesmerizing display of color. Broad and swift brushstrokes capture their fleeting beauty. Artist Benjamin Thomas s...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Ibis birds wander and forage under palm fronds. Their white feathers catch the dappled sunlight, while their red beaks and legs contrast with the lush greens. I...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Growing up in Minnesota, artist Joanie Ford loved the winter days, ice fishing, and when snow blanketed the trees. This oil painting reflects her fond memorie...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Onelio Marrero paints a group of children blissfully swimming along the beach. He often visits the seashore during the summer months, and this painting...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
An aerial view reveals a patchwork of farmland in the Midwest. A blue lake nestles among the green fields, mirroring the soft hues of the horizon. The compositi...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A cozy street in Prague glows with vibrancy after a rainfall. Refreshed leaves adorn the trees, houses exude a renewed radiance, and the wet pavement glistens...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Onelio Marrero captures a Midtown Manhattan scene in low winter afternoon light. The flags' vibrant red and blue attract attention, contrasting with the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Two hummingbirds spread their wings and soar gracefully. The pastel green background evokes a lush garden on a sunny day. The scene takes inspiration from art...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Lush trees frame a serene pond, where the water reflects the vivid sky and its fluffy white clouds. Lily pads float gently on the surface, adding a touch of g...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Ruth LaGue shares an idyllic landscape of the lush countryside. Two red barns and a silo stand abreast of verdant trees in the background. Inspired by ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A lighthouse stands on a grassy point, overlooking the tranquil waters of Admiralty Inlet. Its sturdy white walls and vibrant red roofs contrast with the blue...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A plaza in Valencia glows under the golden hour light, its warm hues capturing the charm of early evening. Restaurants begin to stir after siesta, as locals a...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A red fox curls up on the snow, its fiery coat glowing against the icy background. Bold strokes capture the texture of its thick fur. The painting radiates both...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Working on the subject of water lilies and sunset reflections, artist Onelio Marrero portrays a pond mirroring the colors of the sk...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Joanie Fords captures the beauty of Tucson, Arizona in this pastel artwork. Soft, glowing light filters through the terrain, contrasting the lush green c...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Pastel
Mid-20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil, Panel
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Artist Lisa Elley's signature impasto trees stand tall with thick texture and gentle movement in the foliage. The colorful changing leaves contrast against th...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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This impressionist painting captures the vibrant and energetic spirit of summer. People rest under the shade of colorful umbrellas or swim in the refreshing wat...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
1960s Impressionist More Art
Lithograph, Color
Mid-20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Morning sunlight covers the dining room table with a warm, amber glow. The flower arrangement of orchids and willow rests prominently on the table, with a bra...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Rugged cliffs meet the gentle Pacific waves. Vibrant wildflowers add a touch of whimsy to the scene, with their blue, yellow, and lavender petals complementin...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Two charming Appaloosa foals nuzzle one another in a tender display of friendship. Their speckled coats glimmer under a soft, diffused light. The pale blue ba...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
1950s Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
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The low winter sun shines through an aspen grove. Snow blankets the ground, turning the world into a quiet expanse of blue and white. Each step crunches beneath...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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A white iris blooms against a gray and blue background. Its petals glow with purity, while subtle shadows echo the tones of the surrounding light. For artist Ja...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
