Claude Monet
Claude Monet was a French Impressionist painter known for landscapes and repeated studies of changing light, color, and atmosphere.
Painting Movement
Impressionism
Impressionism was a French painting movement that brought changing daylight, visible brushstrokes, and scenes of everyday life to the foreground.
Impressionism quick facts
Review Impressionism's origins, working methods, subjects, and early exhibitions, including the 1874 show that gave the movement its name.
| Origin | France, especially Paris and its surroundings |
|---|---|
| French name | Impressionnisme |
| Approximate period | 1860s–1880s |
| First independent exhibition | Paris, 1874 |
| Exhibition history | Eight independent group exhibitions, 1874–1886 |
| Defining characteristics | Visible brushstrokes, shifting light, bright color, and immediate observation |
| Common subjects | Landscapes, leisure, city life, and scenes of modern France |
| Painting methods | Outdoor observation for many artists; rapid, broken brushwork and work in the studio |
| Paint medium | Oil paint, among other media |
| Name | Derived from Claude Monet's Impression, Sunrise and critical reactions to the 1874 exhibition |
Sources: The National Gallery, National Gallery of Art, and MoMA.
Famous Impressionist painters
Explore two artists closely associated with Impressionism, from Monet's changing landscapes to Degas's studies of movement and modern urban life.
Edgar Degas
Edgar Degas was a French artist associated with the Impressionists, known for ballet dancers, horse racing, portraits, and scenes of modern Parisian life.
Related painting movements
Post-Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism emerged from Impressionist painting but developed different approaches to color, form, and observation.
| Movement | How it differs |
|---|---|
| Post-Impressionism | A retrospective grouping of artists who moved beyond Impressionism toward personal expression, symbolism, or stronger structure. |
| Neo-Impressionism | A more systematic approach to separate touches of color, guided by optical theory rather than spontaneous brushwork. |
Sources: National Gallery of Art: Post-Impressionism and MoMA: Neo-Impressionism.