My First Impression of Famous Impressionist Painters

The letter "i" stands for "I'm impressed."

The term “impressionism” was first used in 1874, and its initial usage was not very complimentary. A critic was making a sarcastic remark about one of Monet's landscape paintings. Not allowing an unfavorable judgment to cramp his style, Claude Monet (1840 – 1926), working with Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841 – 1919), developed the technique of broken-color painting. These two artists are recognized as the founders of the art form known as Impressionism.

Others who were also a part of the group known as impressionist painters include: Édouard Manet (1832 – 1883), Jacob Camille Pissarro (1831 – 1903), Paul Cézanne (1839 – 1906), and Edgar Hilaire Germain Degas (1834 – 1917).

Monet and Renoir ( Plus The Others)

An art aficionado, I am not.  But like most people, my attention can easily be captured by an impressive painting.  The artwork of Claude Monet has always impressed me.  However, it appears that Monsieur Monet had to work arduously at developing a fan base that appreciated his art. Of course, Auguste Renoir painted female nudes. Not that he wasn't a great artist because his subjects were bare naked ladies. But gathering appreciative admirers was not as difficult. 🤭

Nevertheless, through his persistence, Monet's paintings have gained the recognition they deserve, and there are many of today's artists who will readily admit that their art style has been influenced by the work of Claude Monet. As all of the impressionist painters named are already well known, there is a wealth of information about them that can be found online.  Since they are no longer with us, there is nothing substantial left to be added (unless authentic secret diaries or original works stashed in someone's attic are discovered). 

Below are links to condensed biographies of each artist, which serve as an excellent introduction should you wish to know more about them. 

The ArtStory.org published biographical snapshots:

Claude Monet (1840 – 1926)

• Most Famous Painting: Impression, Sunrise (1872)
• Location: Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, France

Where to See Claude Monet's Most-Famous Paintings in France

Édouard Manet (1832 – 1883)

• Most Famous Painting: Olympia (1863)
• Location: Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France

Top 10 Most Famous Paintings By Édouard Manet | The Geographical Cure

Edgar Hilaire Germain Degas (1834 – 1917)

• Most Famous Painting: The Ballet Class (1871–1874)
• Location: Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France

Edgar Degas Best Paintings and Where to See Them |World by Isa

Jacob Camille Pissarro (1831 – 1903)

• Most Famous Painting: Boulevard Montmartre at Night (1897)
• Location: National Gallery, London, United Kingdom

Top 10 Famous Camille Pissarro Paintings

Paul Cézanne (1839 – 1906)

• Most Famous Painting: The Basket of Apples (1895)
• Location: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA

12 of the Most Famous Paintings and Artworks by Paul Cézanne | ArtisticJunkie.com

For info about Pierre Auguste Renoir, visit notablebiographies.com.

• Most Famous Painting: Dance at the Moulin de la Galette (1876)
• Location: Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France

11 Most Famous Paintings By Renoir (Pierre-Auguste Renoir) You Should See | Dreams in Paris

➡️ MY LIFE LESSON from this brief study of Impressionism?

~~ A word that now labels an accepted and respected artistic style was originally a feeble attempt to insult a man whose skillful use of the paintbrush made a lasting impression on the viewers. ~~

Persistence, Perseverance, and Patience Pays.

🎨 🎨 LINKS OF INTEREST:

Joaquín Clausell: Blending Impressionism with Mexican Themes for Global Influence | Art Movements

Impressionism vs Expressionism - What's the Difference? | Artst

Impressionism vs Expressionism: Key Similarities and Differences | Singulart Magazine

♦ Featured image is a portion of Claude Monet's 1882 painting, The Cliff Walk at Pourville; this Impressionist masterpiece, housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, captures a serene coastal scene in Pourville, France.

♦ [Content previously published: Original Source]