2.1 The Influence of French Impressionism

French Impressionism shook up American art in the late 1800s. Artists like Mary Cassatt and John Singer Sargent brought fresh ideas back from Paris, inspiring a new wave of American painters to capture light and color in bold new ways.

This cultural exchange transformed American art. Landscape painters like Childe Hassam and William Merritt Chase embraced outdoor painting and bright palettes, creating a uniquely American take on Impressionism that celebrated both urban and rural scenes.

Key Figures in American Impressionism

Pioneering Women and Portrait Artists

Top images from around the web for Pioneering Women and Portrait Artists

• 

  Mary Cassatt – Wikipedija / Википедија View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Mother’s Goodnight Kiss (1888) by Mary Cassatt. Orig… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:John Singer Sargent - Mrs. Fiske Warren (Gretchen Osgood) and Her Daughter Rachel - Google ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Mary Cassatt – Wikipedija / Википедија View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Mother’s Goodnight Kiss (1888) by Mary Cassatt. Orig… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Pioneering Women and Portrait Artists

• 

  Mary Cassatt – Wikipedija / Википедија View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Mother’s Goodnight Kiss (1888) by Mary Cassatt. Orig… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:John Singer Sargent - Mrs. Fiske Warren (Gretchen Osgood) and Her Daughter Rachel - Google ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Mary Cassatt – Wikipedija / Википедија View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Mother’s Goodnight Kiss (1888) by Mary Cassatt. Orig… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Mary Cassatt revolutionized depictions of women and children in Impressionist art
  • Focused on intimate domestic scenes and mother-child relationships
  • Developed a unique style blending Japanese woodblock prints with Impressionist techniques
  • Served as a cultural bridge between American and French Impressionists
• John Singer Sargent excelled in portraiture and landscapes
  • Renowned for his ability to capture the personality and social status of his subjects
  • Developed a distinctive brushwork style that combined academic precision with Impressionist looseness
  • Created numerous portraits of high society figures (Madame X)

American Landscape Impressionists

• Childe Hassam became known as the "American Monet" for his urban and rural scenes
  • Painted cityscapes of New York and Boston, capturing the energy of modern urban life
  • Developed a technique of using small, broken brushstrokes to create a sense of movement and light
  • Created a series of flag paintings during World War I, symbolizing American patriotism
• William Merritt Chase founded the Shinnecock Hills Summer School of Art
  • Taught en plein air painting techniques to numerous American artists
  • Known for his vibrant park scenes and portraits of fashionable women
  • Experimented with various Impressionist styles throughout his career

Impressionist Techniques and Style

Painting Methods and Color Theory

• En plein air painting involved creating artworks outdoors to capture natural light
  • Artists used portable easels and pre-mixed paints to work quickly in changing conditions
  • Allowed for more accurate depiction of atmospheric effects and fleeting moments
• Optical mixing relied on the viewer's eye to blend colors placed side by side on the canvas
  • Involved placing pure, unmixed colors next to each other in small brushstrokes
  • Created a vibrant, shimmering effect when viewed from a distance
• Broken color technique used separate brushstrokes of different colors
  • Produced a more vibrant and luminous effect than blending colors on the palette
  • Allowed artists to capture the way light interacts with different surfaces and textures

Color Palette and Light Effects

• Impressionist palette emphasized bright, pure colors
  • Moved away from the muted tones of academic painting
  • Included vibrant yellows, blues, greens, and purples to capture natural light
  • Avoided using black, instead creating shadows with complementary colors
• Light effects became a central focus of Impressionist paintings
  • Artists studied how light changes throughout the day and seasons
  • Captured fleeting moments of light and atmosphere (sunrise, sunset)
  • Explored the effects of light on water, snow, and other reflective surfaces

French Influence on American Impressionism

French Impressionist Masters and Their Impact

• Claude Monet inspired many American artists with his innovative techniques
  • Developed the concept of painting in series to capture changing light conditions
  • Created the famous water lily paintings at his garden in Giverny
  • Influenced American artists' approach to landscape painting and color use
• Expatriate artists like Mary Cassatt and John Singer Sargent lived and worked in France
  • Exposed to the latest artistic trends and techniques in Paris
  • Formed connections with French Impressionists and helped introduce the style to America
  • Brought back new ideas and techniques to influence the American art scene

French Art Institutions and Cultural Exchange

• Salon exhibitions in Paris served as a platform for artists to gain recognition
  • Annual exhibitions organized by the French Academy of Fine Arts
  • Rejection of Impressionist works led to the creation of independent exhibitions
  • American artists sought to exhibit at the Salon to establish their reputations
• Giverny became a hub for American artists studying Impressionism
  • Monet's home and gardens attracted numerous American painters
  • Artists like Theodore Robinson and Willard Metcalf studied directly with Monet
  • The Giverny art colony fostered cultural exchange between French and American artists