Impressionism (Painting)
Impressionism is an artistic movement that flourished in France between 1860 and 1890. The term has been widely adopted around the world to describe artistic production that follows the principles and methodologies of the "Impressionists." Opposing Realism, a technique that valued accurate renderings of a scene ("to copy nature"), Impressionists sought to "observe nature" and to capture its transitory states of light and feeling. Impressionists produced paintings of natural landscapes as well as the spectacle of modern life to express an essence of modernity. They took advantage of technological innovations like collapsible paint tubes and synthetic colors, which allowed them to work quickly en plein air and use bright palettes. Modernity also brought in new products to Paris. The opening of trade routes between Japan and Europe exposed French artists to different compositional techniques through Japanese woodblock printing, specifically the ukiyo-e print. Monet claimed that Japanese artists "taught us [impressionists] to compose differently." The original movement fractured in the mid-1880s and the core artists no longer painted or exhibited together. Originally criticized for artistic incompetence that did not reflect prevailing norms in the artistic academy, Impressionist paintings are among the most reproduced and sought after popular works of modern art.