50 Impressionist Paintings You Should Know

by Ines Janet Engelmann

No artistic education is complete without a healthy dose of Impressionism. Here fifty of the most important works from the early nineteenth through the early twentieth centuries are gorgeously reproduced, including the best of Monet, Degas, van Gogh, Renoir, Cézanne, Cassatt, Manet, Seurat, and Pisarro. Each piece is given a brief overview establishing its place in the Impressionist pantheon as well as in its artist's oeuvre. An introductory text explains the Impressionistic style, tracing the movement's development, while an appendix offers biographies of the artists. The result is a veritable tour on Impressionism, offering an enjoyable and practical art history lesson that everyone can enjoy.

Genres: Art

160 pages, Paperback

Published May 22, 2018

Reviews

[Am Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could've been more concise and convincing in terms of explaining why each of these paintings is supposedly notable.

[Liawèn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a wonderful overview over impressionist painters and paintings. I fell in love with the Impressionist during a visit to the National Gallery. The vibrant colours and every day life paintings that seem to depict one fleeting moment in time fascinate me. I wanted to learn more about the artists and their style. This book provides a great overview. It has some well-known paintings as well as some rather I known ones and those are the ones that interest me the most.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most joyous days of my life was when I visited Monet's home in Giverny and walked through his gardens - the ones by the house and the water lily garden complete with an old bateau and the beautiful Japanese bridge. I was struck by the fact that all over the house there were Japanese woodblock prints. It seemed a contradiction for an artist who chose to "blur" the lines in his paintings to collect these prints which are so precise. Later I learned that the prints gave Monet and other impressionists "permission" to paint ordinary life and scenes instead of the frequent depiction of historical or mythological themes. Fortunately in my travels I have visited the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Chicago Art Institute and "traveling" exhibits at my own Minneapolis Institute of Art. Because of this I have seen 38 of the 50 impressionist paintings from the book. I have prints by Mary Cassatt, Monet, Van Gogh, Berthe Morisot and Manet in my home. My desire is to have something joyous to see everywhere I look. I also have a old Japanese silk screen, a brush painting by the wood block artist Tomikichiro Tokuriki. I had the privilege to visit his home in Kyoto in 1967. He did the one of a kind brush painting of a little bird while I watched - it took about 45 seconds ( applying his chops took longer ) and he gave it to me as a present. I also have woodblocks by this master and love them as Money did. I really enjoyed reading this book because of all the great memories it provoked. In addition to the most famous Impressionists, I learned about Gustave Caillebotte, Lovis Corinth, and Max Slevogt. I highly recommend this book. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved seeing my favorite works as well as some unfamiliar paintings by familiar artists. A great resource on the Impressionist movement, artists, and 'story' behind these paintings.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful overview of the major Impressionist painters.

[Luis Camacho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introductory book that collates all the essential works of the art movement

[Dayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are the only two that I have to continually review. Otherwise I knew the other 48.

Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat (Marvelous LACMA exhibit about 10 years ago--apparently there is some research being done about the application of Seurat's dots.

Paris Street: Rainy Day Wall Art by Gustave Caillebotte--how does one pronounce the last name?

KY-yuh baht?