Impressionism
vs.
Post Impressionism
Impressionist works were painted to mimic the world around the artist by using unmixed colors. Post-impressionism, on the other hand, aimed to appeal to emotion rather than direct accuracy and used much more vivid colors. I am more of a fan of post-impressionism because it doesn't just use bleak colors.
Impressionist Works
Water Lillies
Claude Monet
1906
France
The Card Players
Paul Cezanne
1892
France
Post-Impressionist Works
Starry Night
Vincent Van Gogh
1889
French Monastary
The Dream
Henri Rousseau
1910
France
I am much more a fan of post-impressionist works as compared to impressionist works because of the color palette used. It is much more vivid and bright and makes these paintings much more happy and cheery. Impressionist works are much more realistic, from a photographic standpoint, but many of the post-impressionist works show more style and freedom. For instance when comparing The Card Players and The Dream, the first undoubtedly has more detail and a more physically accurate depiction of people, but in the latter, Rousseau a dream-like state.
Another element that varies significantly between these styles is proportions. In the first two images, we see normal, accurate proportions depicted in the plants, water, and people. However, in the second two, we can clearly see that proportions are used more in an artistic sense, with the enlarged stars in the sky, and the size of the foliate and flora.
Thirdly, when looking at the subject matter of these paintings, is when we really can tell the difference in style. Impressionist paintings are characterized by a life-like scene, something that you would see in everyday life. Post-impressionist paintings signified a new era, that artists had moved on from normal paintings, and started to use new styles to depict things not seen in everyday life, or even at all.
In conclusion, Impressionist works were made to portray a scene, just like a camera would. Post-impressionist works are more pieces of art, including abstract elements that set it apart from everyday life.
Metmuseum.org, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435868.
Monet, Claude. “Water Lilies.” The Art Institute of Chicago, Painting and Sculpture of Europe, 1 Jan. 1970, www.artic.edu/artworks/16568/water-lilies.
Rousseau, Henri. “Henri Rousseau. The Dream. 1910: MoMA.” The Museum of Modern Art, www.moma.org/collection/works/79277.
“Van Gogh Starry Night: Van Gogh Gallery.” Van Gogh Starry Night - The Painting and The Story, www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/starry-night.html.
Metmuseum.org, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435868.
Monet, Claude. “Water Lilies.” The Art Institute of Chicago, Painting and Sculpture of Europe, 1 Jan. 1970, www.artic.edu/artworks/16568/water-lilies.
Rousseau, Henri. “Henri Rousseau. The Dream. 1910: MoMA.” The Museum of Modern Art, www.moma.org/collection/works/79277.
“Van Gogh Starry Night: Van Gogh Gallery.” Van Gogh Starry Night - The Painting and The Story, www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/starry-night.html.
I personally prefer the work in impressionism. I enjoy the flow of things and I feel the intention is to give something nice to look at with not much of an agenda. It may be inspired by events or even political in nature, but it is all up to the viewer to interpret.
ReplyDeleteNow, I will play devil's advocate and say that I don't think that Van Gogh's Starry Night is as deserving of the attention it gets. I find it a bit more chaotic than beautiful, but of course that is my opinion. I enjoy impressionism more because I like the toned down realism. Full on abstract is just chaos to me.
I also prefer Post-Impressionist works for many of the similar reasons. The freedom expressed in the proportions and color make them more interesting to the eye and by comparison the Impressionism pieces look a little dreary.
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