Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Why Modern Impressionist Artists Inspire The Public

By Agnes Franco


Impressionist works have always enjoyed widespread recognition, working their way into the popular imagination with ease. Much contemporary art is accused of ignoring the artistic aspirations of the general public. They in turn are baffled by faceless installations and sadly ignore the art world. It need not be this way, as many modern impressionist artists, who sell well, have discovered.

Impressionism finds its origins in the Paris of the 1870s. At this time the city was the undisputed capital of the art world. Here gathered the masters of this emerging movement. Among them were names such as Monet, Renoir and Degas. They were tired of the stuffy works exhibited at the Academy of Fine Arts. They were determined to start a rebellion.

They cast aside conventional notions of fitting subject matter and the painstaking attention that was paid to details. They saw the world differently and believed that others should share their vision. For them capturing the essence of a subject was more important than an accurate portrayal. Their depictions, often using broad and daring brushstrokes, were dazzling and vibrant explorations of light and color.

The Academy was horrified, claiming that the works were crude and poorly executed. They refused to exhibit the paintings. The public, however, thought differently. They flocked in great numbers to view the paintings at alternative exhibitions.

It was inevitable that Impressionism would be superseded by ever more adventurous techniques and styles. Yet, those painters, who tried so hard to be instantaneous, in fact produced paintings of timeless importance. The public has a huge appetite for these works. Evidence of this is everywhere. Masterpieces are printed onto all manner of surfaces from fridge magnets to tote bags.

modern impressionist artists continue with the traditions of that earlier age. Inevitably they explore new subject matter, experiment with new techniques and discover their own style. Nevertheless, they produce paintings that share the popular appeal of the masters, but which are accessible and affordable to the buying public.




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