impressionist

[ im-presh-uh-nist ]

noun

1. a person who follows or adheres to the theories, methods, and practices of impressionism, especially in the fields of painting, music, or literature.
2. an entertainer who does impressions.

adjective

1. (usually initial capital letter) Fine Arts. of, relating to, or characteristic of Impressionism:

   Impressionist paintings; Impressionist artists.

Other Words From

• im·pression·istic adjective
• im·pression·isti·cal·ly adverb
• nonim·pression·istic adjective
• semi-im·pression·istic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of impressionist¹

From the French word impressionniste, dating back to 1875–80. See impression, -ist

Example Sentences

It’s not unlike what happened in the 1840s, when the camera was invented, which freed artists from a too literal interpretation of nature, and opened the doors for the impressionists.

From Nautilus

Tired of the classical sculptures, impressionist paintings, and chipped ancient relics you stroll past at your local art museum?

From The Daily Beast

The Daily Pic: In the 1890s, the great Post-Impressionist used canvas the way others used paper.

From The Daily Beast

Another talented impressionist is theater actress Rachel York.

From The Daily Beast

The Met comes close to that goal in its current show on Impressionist dress—which was organized by a paintings expert.

From The Daily Beast

Bremer says he paints in a style best described as “American impressionist—primitive.”

From The Daily Beast

You should understand what "impressionism" really is, and what it is not, and what the impressionist stands for.

From Project Gutenberg

It is nothing to brag of, even if a man struggling against natural medievalism have entrenched himself in impressionist theory.

From Project Gutenberg

I can't quite understand all this now, but it seemed a very picturesque, impressionist description when I wrote it.

From Project Gutenberg

My pictures may have possessed a shade too much of the impressionist character.

From Project Gutenberg

Another on "Dragon-Flies" is delightful because of its impressionist translations of Japanese poems.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• classicist
• writer