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.
Artist Comments
A mother watches as her child searches for small treasures in the sand as the golden afternoon light shines across the shore. She savors this timeless scene of ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Yangzi Xu captures the joyful return of spring to downtown Chicago in this painting. Vibrant tulips in pinks, reds, and corals fill the foreground, softe...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
2010s Impressionist More Art
Linen, Oil
Artist Comments
Two barns rest on a quiet farm, surrounded by autumn colors. The overcast morning softens the warm tones across the rolling hills. The scene captures the serene...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
1920s Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A traditional farmhouse and its outbuildings nestle beneath eucalyptus trees. Soft afternoon light casts a warm, nostalgic glow across the scene. The Topa Topa ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Late 19th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil, Canvas
Artist Comments
Tall trees fill the landscape, their trunks adding vertical elements to the scene. Dense foliage filters the sun, creating patches of light and shadow on the gr...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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In this warm impressionist painting, artist Onelio Marrero captures his love of antiques and collectibles. He depicts the eclectic clutter of an antiques store ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Sunlight accentuates the quaint stone walls and shutters of an Italian house. Flowers with creeping vines create a dramatic and highly textured visual effect. P...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
1980s Impressionist More Art
Oil, Egg Tempera, Board
Artist Comments
Grasses and shrubs stretch diagonally across the scene, while a lush grove of tall trees rises at a distance. Small houses with red roofs sit among the foliage....
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Yangzi Xu captures the vibrant energy of downtown Chicago as dusk descends over the city. A cyclist glides effortlessly through the illuminated streets...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist More Art
Masonite, Oil
1980s Impressionist More Art
Oil, Panel
Mid-20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A narrow path offers views of the expansive land along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. The sun bathes the landscape in warm light. Trees and bushes line the ed...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
This vibrant still-life painting features a blooming arrangement of pink lilies, their delicate petals unfolding in a lively play of color and light. Set agains...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
1910s Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Thick, expressive brushstrokes depict a sunny day on the California coast in this impasto painting. Palm trees sway over a sandy beach, with distant mountains r...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Deep purple and red leaves stand out against a background of bright foliage. Artist Catherine McCargar, an avid gardener and watercolorist, drew inspiration fro...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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The sky and the sea appear to merge through shifting shades of blue. Brown tones in the foreground suggest the sand beneath the shallow water. White strokes cap...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Golden aspen trees frame a quiet mountain lake as distant peaks rise into soft, radiant light. Featuring Bear Lake and the Rocky Mountains, this oil painting hi...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A vast landscape unfolds beneath a sweeping, dynamic sky. Fields of green and yellow hint at lush grass and vegetation, while intersecting pathways guide the ey...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
The unparalleled beauty and quietness of deep, freshly fallen snow bring varied responses. To the romantic, it is miraculous. Maybe to the child, it signals a h...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Board, Oil
Artist Comments
Pale yellow fields and orange-red bushes reflect the warmth of autumn in Harriman State Park, New York State. Expressive paintwork captures the movement and tex...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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The sun emerges from behind a veil of clouds as pastel hues fill the sky, reflecting softly on the calm sea below. As demonstrated by this scene, artist Joanie ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Loose, gestural brushstrokes and a luminous palette of crimson, ochre, and violet span this charming piece. Featuring a pair of cardinals, artist Mary Pratt inf...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
On a September afternoon, artist Onelio Marrero noticed a boy fishing from a river weir near his home. He imagined the boy waiting all week for school to end so...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
This painting depicts a tranquil pond dotted with delicate water lilies. Light and shadow play across the surface, creating gentle reflections that invite quiet...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A woman in a flowing dress walks toward a hazy skyline, moving among other pedestrians. Her calm presence contrasts with the modern bustle around her. Through s...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero captures her granddaughter walking along a low tide surf in the late afternoon light on a New Jersey beach. She strolls along the receding...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Bright green trees sway gently under a clear blue sky, their leaves suggested by quick, expressive brushstrokes. A lavender field in the distance adds a soft ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Karen d'Angeac Mihm paints vibrant sunflower fields, often inspired by Provence, but this time, she found inspiration close to home in Wisconsin. A stu...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Siyuan Ma depicts Shanhua Temple, located inside the ancient city of Datong in Shanxi Province–a key cultural relic under state-level protection. "S...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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This impressionist work by artist Warren Keating presents a compelling interplay of light and form from an uncommon vantage point. The composition offers a top-...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Judy Mudd captures the hushed serenity of a winter scene in this watercolor. A small church stands quietly against a snowy backdrop, with candles glowing...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
This painting captures a hillside view of a castle and church in Ronda, Spain. The soft brushwork gives the scene a luminous glow, with shadows falling across t...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Late 19th Century Impressionist More Art
Paper, Pastel
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Linen, Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Yangzi captures Chicago’s Loop at the intersection of Randolph and State Streets as day transitions into night. Soft twilight blends with the vibrant...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Lily pads spread across the water, their vigorous strokes contrasting with the softer details in the distance. As the early morning mist dissipates, the pond ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Pink peonies and yellow roses fill a blue vase in this impressionist still life painting. Their vibrant petals contrast with the grey background. Painted alla p...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero captures a quietly dramatic view of a winding river near his home. Storm clouds rise near the apex of the sun, while lush vegetation surro...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero depicts a bright and airy greenhouse in the New York Botanical Gardens. "The couple introduced me and my wife to this lovely place," sha...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Lisa Elley painted this plein air work in the redwoods of coastal California. Standing on the forest floor, she felt the hush of old trees and the shafts...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Tall trees with lush green foliage create an archway over a narrow waterway. A small boat with a blue hull docks along the water, adding a focal point to the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist More Art
Paper, Pastel
Artist Comments
Living by a lake provides artist Karen d'Angeac Mihm with endless inspiration, as the landscape transforms with each season. Every day offers a new perspectiv...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
The painting captures the essence of the seaside on a warm day. The scene highlights the sparkling blue ocean meeting the rugged shore while bold strokes pain...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A young boy sleeps on a couch with his plastic sword. He peacefully enters the dreamland with his favorite symbolic attire and a heroic pillowcase. The early mo...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
