Birth of
Impressionism under the Shadow of Academic Art
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| Soleil Levant, Monet, 1872 |
19th century has seen vast
number of changes in politics, social and economical life, science, and
technology. Art and artists were not unaffected from these. From the mainstream
understanding of art (Academical Art) to new discoveries in technology lead to
born new concepts in art and artists searched new means of expression.
Impressionism was born in such a world, struggled a lot in order to survive,
and eventually changed the art. Undoubtedly, academic understanding of art in
that era had an important role in birth of impressionism.
The strict, rigid principles of the
aesthetics in France in 19th century caused artists to generate
different styles. One of the most important concepts born in this era is
impressionism of which
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| Les Grandes Baigneuses, Paul Cézanne, 1906 |
important painters are Eduard Manet, Claude Monet, Pierre
Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, and Paul Cézanne. The name impressionism is
come from a painting of Monet “Impression: Sunrise” which exhibited in 1874.
As John Rewald tells in The History of
Impressionism, art in France in those years was determined by the Academy of
Fine Arts. Professors of Fine Arts School and directors of Academy of France in
Rome were chosen from the members of Academy of Fine Arts. In other words, they
were the ones who were educating next generations. Academy also decided to the
paintings purchases of museums and special collection of emperor. They were
controlling the Saloon Jury of State Painting Exhibitions and reject the works if
do not conform to their principles. Not surprisingly, Academy rewarded the
students who obey its rules and restrictions. Public (people who buy art) were
accepting the medals and awards given by academy as a sign of talent and
appraised only the artists who got them.
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| Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe, Edouard Manet, 1863 |
The birth of impressionism can be traced
back to 1863. That year, Saloon Jury rejected 4000 paintings which are about ¾
of all sent included some works by Manet, Pissarro, and Cézanne. The emperor
Napoleon III. opened the Saloon of Rejected for those and let public decide. Especially
"The Luncheon on the Grass” by Manet criticized the most. The technique
and subject matter in this painting opened the way of impressionism.[i]
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| The Two Sisters, On the Terrace, Renoir, 1881 |
In 19th century France, career
of an artist was standard: first, education in the Fine Arts School second,
Rome scholarship for promising students, acceptance of works to Saloon
Exhibitions once a year and then to Palais du Luxembourg (modern art museum of
France of that time) which proved the excellence of artist. Such a painter was
finally chosen to Academy itself. However, for a “rejected”,
life was so hard.
No one would buy his paintings. For an example, Johan Barthold Jongkind sold
his work before the opening of Saloon. When it rejected, buyer gave back the
painting. Henri Murger successfully depicts the art world of 19th
century Paris in his autobiographical novel Scenes from Bohemian Life. One of
the characters is a painter and he has been rejected for years and he had no
money.
The leader of Academic Art was
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867). He was also the
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| Grande Odalisque, Ingre, 1814 |
manager of Fine Art
School. He taught students to copy the models exactly and told "Drawing is
the probity of art."[1]
Drawing is superior to color. There was no nature observation; they worked in
doors from models.
Impressionist style is almost the
opposite of Academic Art. Impressionists observed the nature without biases and
transferred the impressions they perceived to canvas. They found that objects
have different appearances on different times of day and under different
lights. Not only the appearances but also the forms of objects change under
changing light. The painter should catch one moment of change. In order to be
able to do that, they painted quickly, not focused on the whole rather than
details. They replaced the darkness with lightness. They invented new
techniques and form, and used a new color palette with the help of the
innovations in physics and chemistry.
The subjects of impressionists are
different than Academic Art. Historical, mythological and emotional subject
matters replaced by the daily life themes. Outdoor trips of ordinary people,
scenes from urban life, landscape views are some of the topics of impressionism.
In addition, Far East art and new born photography influenced them.
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| Boulevard Montmartre à Paris, Camille Pissarro, 1897 |
In an interview with Monet[2]
he explains his style and opinions (what we call impressionism today) with
these words “There is no recipe for painting, positively none. It depends upon
the man, upon the gift of the artist, and not upon copying nature. (…) I paint
my impressions of nature. It is most difficult to explain. It is the brain that
makes the picture; it is a distinct gift, a talent." About his work he
said "Many people think I paint easily, but it is not an easy thing to be
an artist. I often suffer tortures when I paint. It is a great joy and a great
suffering. (…) I paint a long time on my things, sometimes as many as twenty
mornings on the same study. Then, too, I have a number of canvases always by
me.
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| Jeunes filles au piano, Auguste Renoir, 1892 |
If I lose one effect, I quickly try for another, casting aside canvas after
canvas until I am satisfied. (…) I paint but a short time, perhaps not half an
hour on any one effect, for nature is constantly changing." Showing a snow
scene that he had made in Norway, he said, "I always work out of doors in
winter with bare hands. I never feel the cold. I finish such canvases entirely
out of doors; indeed I never touch anything in my studio." About Japanese
art he had said "The Japanese went much farther in their art than we have
yet gone. If I could paint one small picture like that I would give all that I
have ever done." Monet became very famous in his life. There were numerous
people criticize his and other impressionists’ works as well as a lot of
admirers.
To sum up, since the beginning of the
history of art, there have been rules and restrictions imposed on art; either
by church, king, emperor, state or academies. However, progress has been made
by the creative and courageous artists together with the changing social
conditions. Impressionists are very good examples for this, who opened the age
of revolution in 20th century art.
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| Girl at the Piano (The Overture to Tannhauser), Cezanne, 1868 |
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