Impressionism Paintings vs. Post-Impressionism Paintings

Attribute	Impressionism Paintings	Post-Impressionism Paintings
Time Period	1870s-1880s	Late 1880s-early 1900s
Artists	Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir	Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Georges Seurat
Style	Focus on capturing the momentary effects of light and color	Emphasis on symbolic and expressive content, use of geometric forms
Technique	Loose brushwork, visible brushstrokes, emphasis on capturing atmosphere	Use of pointillism, divisionism, and other innovative techniques
Influence	Inspired by nature and everyday life, rejected traditional academic painting	Experimented with new ways of representing reality, influenced modern art movements

Introduction

Impressionism and Post-Impressionism are two significant art movements that emerged in the late 19th century in France. While both movements were a reaction against the traditional art of the time, they have distinct characteristics that set them apart from each other. In this article, we will explore the attributes of Impressionism paintings and Post-Impressionism paintings, highlighting their differences and similarities.

Impressionism Paintings

Impressionism paintings are known for their focus on capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. Artists of this movement often painted en plein air, or outdoors, to observe and depict the changing qualities of natural light. The brushwork in Impressionist paintings is loose and expressive, with an emphasis on capturing the essence of a scene rather than its details. Colors in Impressionist paintings are often bright and vibrant, applied in small, distinct strokes to create a sense of movement and energy.

• Focus on capturing light and atmosphere
• Painted en plein air
• Loose and expressive brushwork
• Bright and vibrant colors
• Small, distinct brushstrokes

Post-Impressionism Paintings

Post-Impressionism paintings, on the other hand, took the ideas of Impressionism and pushed them further, exploring new ways of representing reality. Artists of this movement were more concerned with expressing their emotions and ideas through their work, rather than simply depicting what they saw. Post-Impressionist paintings often feature bold colors, exaggerated forms, and a sense of distortion that adds a dreamlike quality to the images. Artists like Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne were key figures in the Post-Impressionist movement, each developing their unique style that went beyond the boundaries of Impressionism.

• Focus on expressing emotions and ideas
• Bold colors and exaggerated forms
• Sense of distortion
• Dreamlike quality
• Artists like van Gogh and Cézanne

Comparison

While Impressionism and Post-Impressionism share some similarities, such as their rejection of academic conventions and their interest in capturing the essence of a scene, they differ in their approach to painting. Impressionist paintings tend to be more focused on the immediate visual impression, with an emphasis on light and color, while Post-Impressionist paintings delve deeper into the emotional and psychological aspects of art, using bold colors and distorted forms to convey meaning.

• Both reject academic conventions
• Interest in capturing essence of a scene
• Impressionism focuses on immediate visual impression
• Post-Impressionism explores emotional and psychological aspects
• Use of bold colors and distorted forms

Conclusion

In conclusion, Impressionism and Post-Impressionism are two distinct art movements that emerged in the late 19th century, each with its unique characteristics and approaches to painting. While Impressionism focuses on capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere, Post-Impressionism delves deeper into expressing emotions and ideas through bold colors and distorted forms. Both movements have made significant contributions to the world of art, influencing generations of artists to come.