impressionism

American  

[im-presh-uh-niz-uhm] / ɪmˈprɛʃ əˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. Fine Arts.

   1. (usually initial capital letter) a style of painting developed in the last third of the 19th century, characterized chiefly by short brush strokes of bright colors in immediate juxtaposition to represent the effect of light on objects.

   2. a manner of painting in which the forms, colors, or tones of an object are lightly and rapidly indicated.

   3. a manner of sculpture in which volumes are partially modeled and surfaces roughened to reflect light unevenly.

2. a theory and practice in literature that emphasizes immediate aspects of objects or actions without attention to details.

3. a late-19th-century and early-20th-century style of musical composition in which lush harmonies, subtle rhythms, and unusual tonal colors are used to evoke moods and impressions.

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impressionism British  

/ ɪmˈprɛʃəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. (often capital) a movement in French painting, developed in the 1870s chiefly by Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, and Sisley, having the aim of objectively recording experience by a system of fleeting impressions, esp of natural light effects

2. the technique in art, literature, or music of conveying experience by capturing fleeting impressions of reality or of mood

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impressionism Cultural  

1. A style of painting associated mainly with French artists of the late nineteenth century, such as Edgar Degas, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Impressionist painting seeks to re-create the artist's or viewer's general impression of a scene. It is characterized by indistinct outlines and by small brushstrokes of different colors, which the eye blends at a distance. Soft, pastel colors appear frequently in impressionist paintings.

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Etymology

Origin of impressionism

1880–85; impression + -ism; compare German Impressionismus, French impressionnisme

Explanation

Impressionism is a style of art that uses light and color to capture a moment in time, rather than presenting a realistic image. Monet and Renoir were two masters of impressionism. You can think of impressionism as a technique, in which a painter creates an impression of an object or scene. It's also a major art movement that started in 19th-century France (the word is usually capitalized when referring to that movement). Rather than trying to create true-to-life images, the impressionists attempted to convey reality through gradations of light and generous use of color. In literature, impressionism has a similar meaning, referring to a literary style that does not represent reality realistically, but tries to evoke powerful emotional and sensory responses.

Example Sentences

Claude Monet founded impressionism — a term coined from his 1872 painting “Impression, Sunrise” — to become one of the most celebrated painters of the last two centuries.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 16, 2023

But he was also devoted to the work of Debussy and Ravel, and he brought their dreamy impressionism to his music.

From New York Times • Aug. 5, 2021

His style was influenced by many traditions, including the dreamlike aura of French impressionism and color field painting techniques pioneered by abstract artists including Mark Rothko.

From Washington Post • Mar. 19, 2020

"Monet was just really starting to develop his ideas about impressionism when the Franco-Prussian war broke out in 1870," Dr Wakelin said.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2020

And both were obsessed with art, specifically French impressionism.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti