The world of art has a new spotlight on Impressionism, thanks to two blockbuster exhibitions: Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition at the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) and Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel, Art Dealer Among the Artists, at Geelong Gallery. These exhibitions offer a fresh perspective on the enduring legacy of this influential art movement, showcasing its impact on artists, art dealers, and the broader art world.
A New Look at Impressionism
The exhibitions challenge the traditional view of Impressionism, which was initially met with derision by French art critic Louis Leroy. Leroy's term 'Impressionism', coined to mock the movement, stuck, but the prevailing view has since shifted. Today, the works of Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, and their peers are revered as masterpieces, with some of the most valuable artworks ever created.
What made Impressionism so radical? The movement's revolutionary use of light and color set them apart from their contemporaries in the Paris Salon. The Impressionists were the first to take their easels outdoors, a practice made possible by the invention of tubed paint, allowing for new pigments and a more accessible medium. This shift to plein air painting had a dramatic effect on their work, with the ability to work in full light and capture the changing atmosphere.
Paul Durand-Ruel: Champion of the Impressionists
While the Impressionists faced derision, they found a supporter in Paul Durand-Ruel, a second-generation Parisian art dealer. Durand-Ruel's encounter with Monet and Pissarro's work in London led him to champion the Impressionist cause, devoting his life to the movement. Despite the French public's ongoing disdain, he established lucrative international markets for the artists' work, providing them with much-needed income. Durand-Ruel also championed a second generation of Impressionists, whose work is now being recognized for its unique sense of color and joy.
Impressionism in the US
The cultural exchange between Europe and the US played a significant role in the development of Impressionism. American artists who studied abroad brought the style's techniques back home, with William Merritt Chase teaching Impressionist techniques at a summer school in Shinnecock on Long Island. This led to American artists adapting the loose brushwork and dynamic colors to urban environments.
In the 20th century, European artists fleeing war and persecution introduced American audiences to the European avant-garde, which gave rise to the Abstract Expressionist movement. This shift in the art world's epicenter from Paris to New York demonstrates the dynamism and translation of Impressionism's influence.
The Lasting Appeal of Impressionism
AGSA curator Tansy Curtin explains that the passage of time allows us to appreciate 19th-century artworks without the complicating factor of social critique. The distance gives us space to think about the grand statements made by these artists about the history of art, without the pressure to unpack contemporary social issues. The modern viewer responds positively to Impressionism due to its sense of dynamism and the use of color, capturing a sense of joy.
Key Artworks
- Portrait of Paul Durand-Ruel by Pierre-Auguste Renoir: A peaceful and affectionate representation of the silver-haired art dealer, commissioned by Durand-Ruel himself, showing his success.
- Fir Trees at Varengeville by Claude Monet: An archetype of Impressionist painting, depicting a sun-dappled view of the sea through a screen of trees, with a vivid palette and luminosity achieved through plein air painting.
- Entrance to the Grand Canal, Venice by Paul Signac: A Neo-Impressionist work using Divisionism, creating a sense of light through tiny dabs of color, with an almost neon palette.
- Wheat Fields with Reaper, Auvers by Vincent van Gogh: A Post-Impressionist work with a distinctly textural quality, revealing the artist's hand in the thick application of paint.
