Impressionism is a pictorial movement that emerged in France in the last decades of the 19th century. He rejected the academicism and romanticism of the time and proposed a new view of art, closer to contemporary reality.
The movement is named after the criticLouis Leroy, who, commenting on the group’s first exhibition in 1874, mentioned that what he saw were not paintings,but impressions (sketches).
The main characteristics of Impressionism are:
Dispense with mythological and religious historical subjects, and capture scenes of modern life as they are recorded by the artist’s eye.
Impressionist artists painted outdoors, starting and finishing the painting in front of the model that had inspired them, comfortable for the viewer and easy to interpret.
They applied quick, short, curved brushstrokes in pure colours, adapting to the sunlight.
His compositional schemes were more akin to photography, which was beginning to become popular at the time.
They were influenced by realism, moving towards a more naturist way of representing the elements of nature, influenced by sunlight, waterand the seasons, the sea and the beach. Using the colours of the solar spectrum, eliminating white, black and earthy colours from the palette.
The most prominent artists of Impressionism are: Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, -Camille-Pisarro, Berthe, Paul Cezanne, Édouard Manet and Edgard Degas.
In Spain we can highlight Joaquín Sorolla, Santiago Rusiñol and Darío de Regollos.
A good example of Impressionist art can be found in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, a space devoted to “Art to decorate”, where the decorative value of the Impressionist movement is indisputable.
Impressionism influenced the world of fabrics and decorationwith brightly coloured prints in bright colours, flowers, country scenes and living nature. Furniture upholstery, curtains, table linen and decoration become more cheerful and flowery.
A sample of this impressionist trend in the world of fabrics and decoration can be seen, for example, in the style of the Welsh decorator Laura Ashley, which is characterised by a country and romantic style inspired by 19th century English country style and the use of natural fabrics.
The fashion world has one of the best impressionist exhibitions at the Christian Dior Museum, a beautiful villa called “Les Rhumbs”, in the town of Granville in lower Normandy, built at the end of the 19th century in the “belle epoque” style.
The“impressions Dior” exhibition in this village combines the art and fashion of the genius with the Impressionist artistic movement. The dress designed especially for the “flower woman” stands out, with straight shapes and a high, wide skirt, inspired by the crown of a flower.
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