Impressionism

About the collection

The Impressionists emerged in Paris, France, in the early 1860s. Named after their rapid brushwork, the term ‘Impressionist’ was originally intended as an insult, but was updated by this group of artists. They were rejected by the Paris art establishment and were considered radical for their time.

In places like France and Britain, historical, mythological and Biblical art was valued by the artistic elite. The Impressionists were more interested in nature and light. Artists like Claude Monet (1840-1926) studied the changes in light and colour caused by the weather, the time of day and the seasons. These artists took their canvases out of the studio to paint outdoors, capturing nature and the modern world. This was made easier with the invention of tubed paint in the mid-19th century. The Impressionists often painted the same views over and over, capturing the way various light effects impacted their scenes.

Although Impressionism emerged in France, their influence reached across Europe and beyond. This room also shows works by British Impressionists.