Impressionism

Impressionist paintings are very beautiful, and especially very different from expressionist paintings. But if we want to know what exactly is different, we should first look at what impressionism actually is. Impressionism is the style of art in which the painter uses natural dyes and light and shadows to paint. You can call this a very realistic style of painting, which gives you an impression of the reality.

Woman with a parasol - Madame Monet and her son (1875)

This painting has been painted by one of the most famous painters of all times, named Claude Monet. It has been painted in the year 1875. On the grass beneath her feet, you can see her shadow. Contrary to expressionist paintings, this painting has natural colours and normal shades. The painting is also known as 'The Stroll' because it seems like the woman and her son are taking a walk. It is an oil on canvas painting. Monet painted his son on the background on purpose, because it creates a sense of depth. This is because the seven-year old boy is only visible from the waist and higher.

Sunflowers (1888)

This painting is the third version of a series of four paintings, which were all about sunflowers, or tournesols, as they call them in French. This is one of the more famous impressionist paintings by Vincent van Gogh, a well-known Dutch painter. It it currently explosed in the Neue Pinakothek. Just like most of the other paintings shown on this website, it is an oil-on-canvas painting. It measures 92.1 cm x 73 cm. In the part of our site about expressionism, there is another painting by Vincent van Gogh: Starry Night. Both of these paintings were painted in France, during his asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

Impression, Soleil levant (1875)

Soleil levant is French for Sunrise, so the painting is actually called Impression, Sunrise. Monet wanted this because it was not sunrise, but only an impression of what could be a sunrise. In this painting, Monet made use of mostly blue dyes to fill the paiting. It would later be known as the "Exhibition of the Impressionists". It is his most famous painting of Le Havre, the town where he was born. It has been stolen only once by two criminals called Philippe Jamin and Youssef Khimoun from Musée Marmottan Monet. In 1990, the criminals were caught and the painting was recovered, and from 1991, the painting is exposed in the Musée Marmottan Monet again. It is still there.

Two sisters (1881)

This painting is a painting by Auguste Romain, formally known as Pierre-Auguste Romain. Later, first owner Paul Durand-Ruel renamed it "Two Sisters on the Terrace". He had bought it for 1500 francs. Later, it was exposed in a gallery collected by Charles Ephrussi. It was eventually returned to the Durand-Ruel family, whose property it still is.

The luncheon of the boating party (1880-1881)

This painting has been painted by Pierre-Auguste Romain as well. This one was painted just before Two Sisters (see above). Its original, French name was: Le déjeuner des canotiers. It shows a group of people (sailors, if you look at the title), who are having lunch at a terrace. It was purchased by Paul Durand-Ruel, whose son sold it to Duncan Philiips. It is now exposed in the Philips collection in Washington DC. In this painting, Romain played with light a lot, because he made used the tablecloth to reflect light across the entire painting, which is quite special.