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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A woodland painting captures the brilliant sunlight playing on the rock formations of a rise in the woods near the artist Onelio Marrero's home. The patches of ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
A tranquil scene centers on a historic mission-style building with a classic red-tiled roof and smooth white stucco walls. People stroll around the premises, en...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Shrubs and wild growth spread across the dunes in Nags Head, North Carolina. Earthy greens and soft purple shadows trace the rises and flat stretches of land. A...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Board, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil, Board
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Wisconsin's lakes transform with each season, offering endless inspiration. Each month brings unique light, colors, and textures, creating a constantly shifti...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A dirt road winds through fenced pastures, its well-worn hue contrasting with the lush greenery. In the distance, a rustic cabin awaits, offering a warm welcome...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A small blue bird perches on a slender branch. Loose washes suggest its form. Paint splatters drift across the open background, giving the scene a playful, airy...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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A small bird perches on a narrow branch. Soft browns shape its body, while darker strokes define its head and wings. Against a white background, the bird remain...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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A field stretches across the Warwick countryside, echoing the vastness of the sky above. The clouds add softness to the scene. Rich reds and browns fill the for...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
1880s Impressionist More Art
Earthenware, Glaze
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The scene captures the powerful movement and elegance of a polo player mid-game. Rich, textured brushstrokes convey the energy and immediacy of the moment. Bold...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A lone quail perches on a fence, watching over a green vineyard in the Sonoma Valley of California. The panoramic view reveals the tranquil atmosphere of the la...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Lisa Elley captures the azure coast of Carmel, California, in this textured palette knife painting. Sunlight shimmers across the blue water, while rugged...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
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An impressionist scene captures a quiet moment as day transitions into night. The expansive sky commands with a rich palette of yellows, oranges, and purples. T...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
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California artist Catherine McCargar captures a quiet, peaceful moment in the wetlands along the Martinez shoreline. A pair of egrets test the water, sending ge...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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Artist Onelio Marrero captures a lively moment inside a flower shop at Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market, just before Mother’s Day. Surrounded by a daz...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Snow covers the landscape, painting the birch trees and soil white. Drawing from quiet, reflective walks in the woods, artist Valerie Berkely captures this sere...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Bluebonnets bloom beneath the shade of a sturdy, timeworn tree, their petals contrasting with the greens and browns of the landscape. Wide branches cast dappl...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Jeff Fleming captures a cat in its playful nature. Bathed in a soft morning light, this furry tabby frolics in a field of sweet peas, possibly chasing ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Colorful umbrellas, playful figures, and calm waters come together to evoke memories of carefree beach days. Vivid brushstrokes and bright colors create a sense...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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One of artist Tara Zalewsky-Nease's favorite genres is the kitchen still life. A prolific cook and painter, she creates compositions of singular ingredients, ca...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A robin lifts its wings, absorbed in the quiet, timeless work of building a home. The soft, dreamlike background, touched with hints of green, suggests the firs...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A sandy path leads toward the dunes and water, with vivid greenery contrasting against the soft blues above. Painted with a palette knife and brush, the artwo...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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The artwork captures the boundless expanse of the American Canyonlands, where stone and sky meet in harmony with light. The cliffs glow under the touch of the s...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Bright sunlight dances on the serene pond, reflecting the vibrant greens of the surrounding foliage. Gentle ripples add a sense of movement to the tranquil sc...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Onelio Marrero captures a sense of serenity, referencing a gentle river near his home. "Almost indistinguishable is the lone patient heron poised on a ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A geisha, dressed in a traditional kimono, walks along a stone path beside water. The bold, red obi adorned with an organic motif contrasts with the soft green ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Sara Sisun painted this self-portrait from a mirror in her studio in Boulder, Colorado. Flowers, headphones, and other household items add a personal tou...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Wildflowers blooming in the foreground create a focal point against the misty sky and sea in the background. The view depicts the enchanting coastline of Califo...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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A crocus plant blooms in brown soil, its vibrant purple petals contrasting against the earth. Artist Jay Jensen shares that seeing these fragile flowers stirs h...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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Artist Faye Vander Veer depicts a busy market day in Aix-en-Provence. Towering sycamore trees cast cool shadows, while warm, dappled light illuminates the scene...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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An intense chess match unfolds in a sun-drenched courtyard. The late afternoon sun casts intricate patterns across the players' fingers and clothing, as well as...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Lisa Elley's signature impasto trees create a richly textured scene. The foliage sways gently, evoking a serene day in the mountains. Golden leaves sugge...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
1920s Impressionist More Art
Gesso, Wood
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A dirt path cuts between a golden field and the San Francisco Bay, leading to the rolling hills in the distance. Vibrant colors bring warmth to the scenery. Art...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Encaustic
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Artist Karen d'Angeac Mihm traveled to Corfu with her family and fell in love with the landscape and the island's beautiful blue water. This particular painti...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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This oil painting depicts the small village of Sabrosa in Portugal viewed from a nearby vineyard. The church steeple rises prominently among the historic white ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A server, momentarily distracted from her duties, gazes at her phone, waiting for an important text. Though the setting suggests she should be peeling potatoe...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A narrow trail cuts through a wide, sunlit plain. Trees and bushes cast long shadows on the ground, enhancing the sense of space and warmth. Painted in plein ai...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Colorful zinnias fill a bright blue mug, each bloom depicted with loose strokes. The vibrant palette and relaxed brushwork create a lively, fresh atmosphere. Ar...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Onelio Marrero paints a majestic sunrise on Long Island with vibrant colors and rich brushwork. "I am always up early to witness the morning skies wher...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A rugged cliff rises above a turquoise sea, the bold impasto capturing the textures and movement of land and water. The scene depicts the Carmel Highlands, a pl...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Fields of grass stretch untouched except for a path leading into distant woods. Flowers bloom in the shaded foreground, while bright sunlight illuminates just b...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Refined elegance exudes from a bottle of Macallan Terra, a rich amber whisky poured into a tasting glass, and a finely rolled cigar. Warm tones and soft textu...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Warm morning light bathes the desert of Big Bend National Park, casting a golden glow over the landscape. The iconic Mule Ear Peaks rise prominently from the de...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Iris flowers sway among the grass in a sun-dappled landscape. Their petals reveal subtle shifts in color, from soft greyish purples to deep burgundy tones. Hint...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A mountain goat and its kid stand tall against the rugged peaks of Glacier Park, their thick fur ruffled by the wind. Sunlight catches on their coats. Behind th...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Mountains inspire, intimidate, shape weather, shelter wildlife, and hold secrets. This piece draws inspiration from artist Melissa Gannon's trip to the Wallow...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Dappled sunlight dances across a pond where koi swim just below the surface. Gentle ripples and reflections mirror their carefree movements as they feed, while ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A lone figure in a kimono crosses a picturesque bridge within the Daigoji Temple grounds in Kyoto, Japan. Autumn leaves float gently on the tranquil pond, sho...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Early morning fog on the water reveals a quiet world. The pink sky casts a gentle glow over the dimly lit rocks scattered across the bay. Beyond, misty outlines...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Light spills through a window onto a vacant rocking chair in a striking silhouette. A basket of yarn rests patiently at its side, waiting to be used. The painti...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A quiet country road cuts through open fields, its pale surface catching the sunlight. Lavender fields stretch in the distance. Palette knife and brush strokes ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
