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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Tall trees frame the edge of a lake while reeds rise on its sandbar. Sunlight reflects off the calm water, casting a golden glow on its surface. The scene embod...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Much of artist Benjamin Thomas's work is rooted in memory and mistakes rather than direct observation of life. After learning from his painting mishaps, he no...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A sunlit path winds through a lush hill in Provence, leading the eye toward distant mountains. Bright green brushstrokes suggest tall grasses and trees swaying ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Bluebonnet flowers grow on the side of the road on a hilltop plateau near Carta Valley, Texas. Their petals show a vibrant contrast to the lush greens of the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Cypress trees draped with Spanish moss rise from the deep green Chowan River on an overcast early fall day. Cypress knees protrude near the trunks, adding textu...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A tiny beach on Maui offers just enough space for a few painters or beachgoers to settle in. The breeze gently sweeps the tree and pushes the waves between the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
19th Century Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Soft clouds drift across the sky, setting a calm backdrop for a river that stretches into the distance. Along its banks, trees reflect gracefully in the water, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A field of tulips bursts into bloom along Chicago’s iconic Michigan Avenue. The softened architecture glows under a pastel-hued sky, while rich strokes of pin...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Weathered barns stand quietly under a bright, open sky, their faded wood telling stories of time and use. Overgrown grass softens the worn edges of the structur...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Vibrant pink roses and purple irises stand out against a teal blue background. Soft, flowing brushstrokes suggest the delicate movement of petals stirred by a g...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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After seeing photographs and numerous depictions of the famous Motif No. 1, artist Faye Vander Veer went to Rockport, Massachusetts to experience its vibrant ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A striking arrangement of sunflowers blooms against a green and blue background. One radiant flower stands out among others, creating a clear focal point. The l...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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The winter lake effect on the lowlands of St. Lawrence County, near Watertown, New York, produces heavy snowfalls. A thick layer of snow blankets the field an...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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People savor the warm sunshine while walking or dining out at the street mall. Revelers crowd around the pub patio. The Post Office heritage building stands on ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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Artist Fernando Garcia presents a rustic landscape of a midwestern field. He highlights the inclement weather on the plains as the dominating element. "It is ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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This scene captures a quiet moment inside an antiques shop. A man pauses mid-step, drawn to two framed water lily paintings. As any regular shopper knows, the t...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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This evocative impressionist painting captures the essence of a garden by the pond. With loose brushwork and bold palette knife techniques, this piece exudes ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A sweeping view of rolling hills showcases rural fields divided into sections of different crops in the distance. Closer to the foreground, the landscape beco...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A narrow path cuts through a lush vineyard, its gray surface blending with the muted sky and highlighting the greenery. Distant roofs and poles add rural rhythm...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Claudia Verciani captures the splendor of a Tuscan landscape. "During my vacation, I came across a field of sunflowers by the road, and I felt compelle...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Daisies, lupines, and poppies bloom near the ocean as waves crash along the rugged California coastline. Bold palette knife strokes add movement, depth, and tex...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Under the bright sunlight, a salmon-pink rose glows like a soft yellow diamond. Its stem and leaves blend subtly with the purple and blue background. The bright...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Autumn trees partly obscure low-rise structures beyond, their lush foliage filling the scene. Rhythmic brushstrokes capture the gentle rustling of leaves in the...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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A skull rests on a clear case. Muted gray and white background enhances the focus on the subject. Artist Sara Sisun drew inspiration from Dutch painter Vilhelm ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A still life features an arrangement of a rose, a knife, and a peach. Loose strokes and muted colors give textural variation to the composition. During the summ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A vibrant, loosely rendered landscape captures a serene and expansive rural scene. In the foreground, bright green fields with varied shading create depth and t...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A morning fog blankets the lake, bathed in the soft red-pink glow of the first dawn. Light floods the sky, casting the shadowed trees in silhouette. Reflections...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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The painting captures a quintessential scene from Provence, where artist Karen d'Angeac Mihm grew up. White-washed houses with red-tiled roofs nestle among lu...
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Oil
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A peaceful bay stretches along an Irish countryside, where the hills slope down to meet the soft curve of the shore. Bold strokes and earthy colors capture the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Rows of vibrant lavender stretch toward the horizon, their rich purple hues contrasting with golden pathways. Warm sunlight bathes the landscape, casting a gl...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Four bottles of bourbon stand in alignment. Their rich amber hues subtly shift under the light. They echo the profound meaning behind their name, "living wate...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Bright strokes of green highlight a sun-baked landscape in Provence, France. The winding path stretches through the summer field. Energetic dabs of a palette knife create texture and depth. The sky, painted in a rich blue, contrasts with the greenery, giving the painting a lively and dynamic feel.
About the Artist
Artist Janet Dyer...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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In this tonal landscape, artist Benjamin Thomas employs contrasting hues to evoke a vibrant scene. Using a palette knife instead of brushes, he layers and blend...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
2010s Impressionist More Art
Canvas, Oil
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As the sun descends, it leaves a wondrous gift, bathing the seascape in a beautiful array of colors. Yellow and orange hues grace the darkening sky while irid...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Birch trees stand tall with thick texture, their trunks marked by expressive strokes. Flowers bloom densely in the foreground while a reflective pond winds in...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Bathed in the hush of twilight, rows of blooming lavender stretch endlessly beneath a sky brushed with fading light. Each bold, textured stroke captures the fle...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A river gorge reflects the calm colors of the expansive sky filled with soft, billowy clouds. Distant hills lining the horizon fade into mist. A dreamy atmosp...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Olive trees fill an orchard in Provence, their leaves stretching towards the sky. Soft streaks of sunlight cast a gentle glow on the ground below. Painted usi...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Gentle waves roll onto a sandy shore beneath a cloud-filled sky. Soft, impressionistic brushstrokes blend cool blues, greens, and grays, creating a serene, atmo...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Catherine McCargar painted this land and sky panorama from a mix of photos and memory. It captures a stunning summer evening in Northern California, when...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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In mid-August, locals and tourists alike soak up the perfect weather in San Sebastian, Spain. They stroll or lounge along the beach, enjoying the warmth and sof...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A weathered yet sturdy barn stands quietly in a grassy landscape. Artist Judy Mudd captures the regenerative spirit of spring and the enduring rhythm of farm li...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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A raccoon stands against a soft blue background, its curious gaze full of life. Artist Karen Barton was inspired by the animal’s charm and cleverness. Using b...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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The bright morning sunshine floods a front porch where an inviting scene unfolds. Artist Sherri Aldawood was drawn to the light and cast shadows on this historic adobe home in Taos, New Mexico. The two turquoise chairs add to the scene's charm and beckon the viewer to relax and enjoy the peaceful ambiance of the moment.
About the Artist
Sherri Aldawood didn't intend to always paint flowers, but over time her love of gardens started to permeate her art. She focuses on the light and color of the flowers on the canvas. Sherri prefers alla prima, working with wet layers of paint instead of letting them dry. She keeps the paint as wet as possible by using walnut and clove oil...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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The beach in San Sebastian, Spain, is a chaotic paradise. People fill the sand and water, walking around to show off their stylish beachwear, and playing betwee...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A bowl of pears and oranges, along with two pottery pieces, rests on a wooden table. A landscape painting hangs on the wall, adding charm to the still life. The...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
Early 2000s Impressionist More Art
Tapestry
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A purple iris blooms against a blue and gray background. Its delicate petals unfold, revealing soft-veined patterns and a yellow patch. Artist Jay Jensen reflec...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Watercolor
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The colors of the sky shifted quickly during an evening walk, prompting artist Benjamin Thomas to capture its marmalade appeal. Bright orange and pastel pink cl...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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The Lynde Point Lighthouse, also known as Saybrook Inner, in Connecticut, overlooks the peaceful Island Sound. The patterns of receding tidal puddles captivated...
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Oil
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The rolling Cotswold hills in England blend with the misty sky. Painted with a brush and palette knife, the rich strokes capture the depth and lushness of the f...
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Acrylic
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The sun, partially hidden by clouds, casts a fiery blaze across the sky. This scene draws inspiration from the solstice, an astronomical phenomenon celebrated a...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Palm trees and desert vegetation frame a road stretching into the distance. At the horizon, purple mountains rise under a sky filled with multicolored clouds. A...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Jonelle Summerfield beautifully captures a quintessential view of Sedona's red rocks. The contrasting lush greenery enhances the warm landscape. The ru...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A view from a ferry ride offers a glimpse of a distant mountain clad in snow, its peak hidden behind thick layers of clouds. The still water and gray sky sugg...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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A large flock of crows whirls above the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and the Pacific Coast Highway. The orange sun creates a warm backdrop for their silho...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
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Waves crash onto the shore of the Central California Coast. Soft purple hues from the distant hills create a beautiful backdrop against the sun-kissed cliffs,...
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Oil
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This painting captures the setting sun over a game trail in Rockaway, NJ, artist Onelio Marrero’s hometown. A cold snap coated the ground, highlighting the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Oil
