Impressionismus

Taschen Basic Genre

by Karin H. Grimme

Die Abgrenzungen zu anderen Kunstströmungen sind so verschwommen wie das Wasser der Seine, auf dem sich das Licht bricht. Das ist ein Motiv, das die impressionistischen Maler in Frankreich am Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts wiederholt darstellten. So wie das Licht von der Wasseroberfläche reflektiert wird, so stark wirkte eine kleine Gruppe Maler mit ihren gemeinsamen Ausstellungen, die in den Jahren 1874 bis 1886 stattfanden, auf ihre Umgebung. Sie beeinflussten nicht nur andere Künstler auf der ganzen Welt, sondern zeigten der bürgerlichen Gesellschaft ihrer Zeit eine neue, moderne Form des Malens und des Sehens.

Frédéric Bazille - Marie Bracquemond - Gustave Caillebotte - Mary Cassatt - Edgar Degas - Vincent van Gogh - Armand Guillaumin - Wassily Kandinsky - Max Liebermann - Claude Monet - Berthe Morisot - Giuseppe de Nittis - Camille Pissarro - Pierre-Auguste Renoir - Medardo Rosso - John Singer Sargent - Giovanni Battista Segantini - Georges Seurat - Walter Richard Sickert - Paul Signac - Alfred Sisley - Max Slevogt - Fritz von Uhde - Federico Zandomeneghi

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art History, Visual Art, History

96 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2007

Reviews

[David Tuttle · Rating 4 out of 5]

really nice overview and summary of impressionism and the scene that spawned it. I think what most surprised me here was some of the material science behind the paint they were using (like the move to tubes of paint that allowed them to paint outside without their paints blowing away), but the dive into the personal and social aspects that drove the movement was also super interesting.

[Joshie · Rating 3 out of 5]

** "In contravention of the existing rules of traditional painting, the works of the Impressionists seemed sketch, spontaneous and 'unfinished', as though they had been done in a few minutes and had not progressed beyond the preliminary stage. The rapid brushstrokes and the abandonment of painterly perfection are deliberate metaphors of the fleeting moment and the speed of everyday life."

My knowledge of Arts is meagre; only a few familiar names, "masterpieces" here and there; the popular ones; Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, van Gogh, Renoir, Pollock, Warhol, Juan Luna, Basquiat, Dali, Rothko, Monet, Munch, Yoko Ono, Yayoi Kusama, et cetera, et cetera. When I was a kid I drew stick figures on walls to my parents disappointment and years after I copied those animated characters I saw from cartoons then gave them to my classmates, some friends. I joined a couple of art-making contests in high school. I kept a bunch of sketches until I stopped. I can't remember when nor why. Sometimes I look at my hands and wonder if I still have the potential to create something of artistic value, of emotional passion with them. Sometimes I pick up a pen and try but all I can create is a two year old's stupid dribble. Whenever I take a different route on my way home from my favorite theatre, I always see a Picasso quote painted on a wall, "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." and I smile to myself every time — somehow sad, somehow relieved.

I have been discouraged from taking an Art degree ('There's no money in it.', 'We have no money.', 'You'll starve.', 'There's no future in that.'). I got discouraged and second guessed my own ability. Of course I knew I was an average. But in contrary to my melancholic disposition and my thoughts which are often plagued by the negatives I love lithe, colorful, bright, pastel-like, gouache paintings. When I relocated to another country and spent my birthday alone, I went to the National Gallery and saw paintings from my favorite art movement: Impressionism. It was an eye-opening experience and it's one of the most unforgettable birthdays I've ever had and most of them were forgettable.

Impressionism isn't always light nor is it always bright yet there is something in the movement that endears it to me especially Sisley and Monet's works. They give me a sense of peace and the impermanence of everything surrounding me which makes me all the more appreciative of them. The exhibit featured Renoir, Stevens, Sisley, Cézanne, Morisot, Signac, Seurat, and Monet. Monet painted over 200 water lilies and, luckily in this life of mine, I had the chance to see one. It was utterly beautiful and astounding.

A picture of one of Monet's Water Lilies from his Water Lilies series taken by me:

WATER LILY POND, PINK HARMONY (1900) by Claude Monet

This book was short but I bought it cheap. The first part of the book was an introduction to Impressionism and tackled quite a number of artworks and art movements which gave way to the movement, Neo-Classicism, Realism, and Naturalism, and Japanese woodcuts. The second part featured a number of painters, both obscure and popular, male and female, and their contribution to the movement (Cézanne not included!). Grimme's description of each artwork as discussed in each page is very insightful. Overall, it seemed quite reductive and only covered the influence and birth of Impressionism (and Neo-Impressionism, Pointillism) in European countries. Nevertheless, it's a portable book, an introduction that can suffice, and comes with beautiful pictures.

[caity ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great introduction to Impressionism and it's key figures, great if you have little knowledge on impressionism or you're just looking to brush up.

[MG · Rating 5 out of 5]

ooohhhh nice

[Rose]

Meagre as my knowledge in arts is, I know there is a specific type of paintings I tend to be drawn to, and I found its language in Impressionism. Light and colours are just little wonders in life.

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book full of short biographic stories about the biggest names and influences within Impressionism. To my shame, I was not familiar with very talented female impressionists of the time. Luckily, the book introduced to me to several of them.

[Emilia Emilika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice pictures

[Bruno Laschet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein kurzer Überblick über die Maler und die Kunstwerke des Impressionismus. nicht das ganz grosse Werk - aber als Nachschlagewerk durchaus ok.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Internal notes: Taschen produce beautiful books on art. The book contains countless works of art by the notable Impressionist artists it profiles.