THE ROOTS OF IMPRESSIONISM - THE ACADEMY

THE TREE OF IMPRESSIONISM

Often, I am asked to share my thoughts about the different schools of art, which artist influenced other artists, or who studied with, or who preceded who. Not an easy task to take on during a weekend workshop.

Capturing a visual overview of the interconnectedness and offshoots of the different movements, for me as an instructor, became essential to help students find their way through the labyrinth of commentaries. Years ago, I found online an image using a tree that helped me explain the development and influencers of the Impressionist movement. Taking that concept as a visual teaching tool, I created my own with some changes, of course, and commissioned a new graphic image from my brother-in-law Robert Knight, famous in his own right as an artist.

I do hope you will find the “Tree of Impressionism” helpful, as well as the list of links of the names to use as a quick reference.

It is available on my website in the Master Class section for Downloads. Here are just a few of my favorites that are presented here. I will be sharing more about these artists and others as we move through the Master Class.

The Artists and Foundational Principles

Master Class on "How to be an Impressionist" Part One (15 Videos) introduces the development of Impressionism, its influences, the artists, and the core foundational principles and philosophy of its canon for you to be an Impressionist.  Dmitri's method of using the Tree of Impressionism as a teaching tool is to introduce students to particular key characteristics found in each of the following artists:  4 major influencers of the Academy (Roots); 6 of the Natural European Impressionists, 6 of the Americans Impressionists; several Post Impressionists, Fauvists and beyond. Included are videos containing suggested assignments (exercises) to practice to increase your awareness of these principles that will benefit you as you move forward in Part Two - Drawing, Part Three - Painting, and Part Four- Plein Air Painting.

1.     The Tree of Impressionism

2.     The Roots of Impressionism 4 Artists

3.     Manet – Sisley – Monet

4.     Renoir – Morisot – Degas

5.     Cassatt- Sargent- Chase

6.     Twachtman – Weir  - Hassam

7.     Van Gogh- Cezanne – Bonnard

8.     Matisse- Derain – Kandinsky

9.     The Roots: Takeaways Point & Suggested Assignments

10.  Manet – Sisley – Monet Assignments

11.  Renoir – Morisot – Degas Assignments

12.  Sargent – Chase- Hassam Assignments

13.  Weir- Twachtman- Cassatt Assignments

14.  Van Gogh- Cezanne – Bonnard Assignments

15.  Matisse- Derain – Kandinsky Assignments

The Roots of Impressionism - The Academy

·      Delacroix (Romanticism - considered one of the last old Master painters along with Ingres. His was muralists with expressive brushstrokes and unique use of color based upon the color theory of that time, which influenced the Impressionists).

o   Notes: He saw the picture as the bridge between the soul of the artists in the spectator and believed in developing the powers of observation through sketching to bring passion into the work. 

·      Poussin – (Classicism – he used color compositionally. “Drawing is the Skelton and Color is it’s flesh” for color lures the eyes. The 3 foundations for beauty preparations were arrangement, measurement and form).

o   Note: This artist used a base palette distributing primary colors throughout his work.

·      Ingres (Neo-classical tradition, with expressive distortions of form of the figure and space, influenced the modernists such as Matisse and Picasso).

o    Note: He saw the need for drawing with the eyes first; and that imagination as well as craft was important.

·      Corot (Neo-classical tradition, his work simultaneously referenced the academy tradition, while his plein-air works anticipated the innovations of the Impressionists).

o   Note: He looked to capture the mood. We are to experience first by sketching and photograph second.

An offshoot of the Roots of Impressionism during the Impressionists time was– Naturalism.

My favorite artist of that movement is Bastien-Lepage. He was a contemporary of the Impressionists and friend of the American impressionist J. Alden Weir. Yet not associated with the French impressionist, he was with the beginning of Naturalism. If one put all the root artists together, one would discover the delights of Bastien-Lepage’s work.