Impressionism Vs Post Impressionism Essay

Art has existed as long as human beings have, however, just as humans have changed, so has art. The progression of the human race can be seen through the changes in the styles of art used to express human thoughts and emotions, One particularly prominent example of the evolution of art is that of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Period, and represented a monumental movement in the art world. Both were extraordinary artistic innovations that not only changed both how artists utilized their materials but also altered the reputation of art itself.

Without overstatement, it can be said the Impressionist movement began in the early 1870’s with Claude Monet. Impressionists ultimately rejected the system of state-controlled academies and salons of previous art periods in favor of independent exhibitions; furthermore, the Impressionists painted contemporary landscapes and scenes of modern life, especially involving the middle class, rather than drawing on the historical and mythological narrative that influenced earlier pieces. Impressionists are also of particular note due to the attention they paid to the effect of light, atmosphere and movement. …show more content…
While Impressionism has no real over-arching theme, Post-Impressionism is connected by the artists’ desire to move beyond a passive representation of perception. Monet’s idea of immediate perception (in which scenes are painted quickly in order to capture a moment in time) was rejected. Instead the Post-Impressionists favored an emphasis on more symbolic content, formal order and structure. Similar to the Impressionists, however, they stressed the artificiality of the picture. In addition, the Post-Impressionists also believed in the utilization of color independent from form and composition as an emotional and aesthetic creator of