Oil

Impressionism is all about leaving an impression. Often referred to as the first modern movement, Impressionism emerged in 1874 by a group of young artists who set up their own independent exhibition, rejecting tradition and promoting new ideas. Although the impressionist style didn't arrive out of the clear blue sky, Impressionists often painted under one. Keen on the idea of working in Plein Air; they painted outdoors in a single sitting rather than in a studio, using small canvases to capture the light or weather rapidly before it changes. Paintings in the impressionist style showcased a fresh perspective of artists who pushed art into new directions. Interested in capturing the fleeting effects of light, weather, and time on canvas, artists such as Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, Andre Leon Albertin and Claude Monet were painting the world as they saw it. Landscapes, views of Parisian leisure, urban scenes painted through loose brushstrokes, and lightened palettes, including pure, pastel col