In this activity, you will:

• Explain the historical context of the Impressionist movement and why it was so groundbreaking
• Compare Impressionism to what came before it
• Develop and deliver a presentation connecting one painting to its historical context

• Multiple Parts

• Paper
• Pencils

What Was Art Like in France Before Impressionism?

For centuries in France, the Académie des Beaux-Arts (“Academy of Fine Arts”) controlled the art world in France. They had strict rules: subjects had to be serious (mythology, religion, history), brushstrokes had to be invisible, and colors perfectly blended. The Salon, France’s official annual exhibition, was the only real path to success. Having your artwork accepted for display at the Salon meant fame, but rejection could end a career.

The art world was transformed in 1863 when Napoleon III allowed rejected artists to exhibit separately in the Salon des Refusés (“Exhibition of the Rejected”). One painting caused a scandal: Edouard Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe (“Luncheon on the Grass”), which showed ordinary modern people instead of gods and heroes. Artists began asking: why follow the rules? What if we painted the world as we actually see it?

What Is Impressionism?

In 1874, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, and others held their own independent exhibition. A critic mockingly named the group “Impressionists” after Monet’s painting Impression, Sunrise, and the artists embraced it.

The Impressionists built their work around five core ideas:

• They focused on capturing light rather than painting objects precisely.
• They tried to freeze a fleeting moment instead of constructing a perfect scene.
• They painted outdoors, a practice called en plein air.
• They left their brushstrokes visible rather than blending them away.
• They depicted everyday modern life like cafés, parks, and dance halls—instead of mythological scenes.

Look Closely at Four Paintings

Examine the paintings below that are connected to the Impressionist era. One represents an early influence, and the others are core Impressionist works. Look closely at each one before reading any background information.

• Forest of Fontainebleau, Cluster of Tall Trees Overlooking the Plain of Clair-Bois at the Edge of Bas-Bréau by Théodore Rousseau
• The Promenade by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
• The Convalescent by Edgar Degas
• Sunrise (Marine) by Claude Monet

Answer Questions About Each Painting

As you look at each painting, discuss or note your answers to the following questions.

• What is the first thing you notice? Where does your eye go?
• What time of day or season does it feel like? What makes you think that?
• Describe the brushstrokes: Are they smooth? Rough? Thick? Thin?
• What is the mood of this painting? Choose 2–3 words to describe how it makes you feel.
• What do you think is the most important thing the artist wanted you to notice? Why?

Compare the Paintings

After looking at all four paintings, compare and contrast them. Write or discuss your responses to the following questions.

• Which painting feels the most “traditional” to you? Which feels the most experimental?
• Compare Rousseau’s forest to Monet’s harbor. What is each artist most interested in capturing?
• Compare Renoir’s and Degas’s paintings. Both show people, but in very different ways. What mood does each one create? How does that mood change how you feel about the subject?
• Based only on looking—without reading anything about art history—which painting do you think was the most controversial when it was first shown? What makes you think that?

Research and Present

Choose ONE of the four paintings to explore in depth. After researching the painting, prepare a short presentation (5–7 minutes) that connects the painting to its historical moment.

Select from the following articles to learn more about the painting you selected.

• Explore Forest of Fontainebleau
• Explore the Promenade
• Explore the Convalescent
• Explore Sunrise (Marine)

Your presentation should include the following elements:

• Introduction—Briefly introduce the painting and artist. What is shown? What was your first reaction to it?
• Historical context—What was happening in France (and the world) when this was painted? What pressures, events, or changes might have shaped how the artist saw the world?
• Visual analysis—Describe the technique in detail. What do the brushstrokes look like? How is color used? What draws your eye? What mood is created?
• Impressionism connection—How does this painting represent Impressionist ideas, or, in Rousseau’s case, how does it point toward what was coming?
• Your interpretation—What do YOU think the artist was trying to say? Does knowing the historical context change how you see the painting?
• A question for your audience—End by asking your audience one open-ended question about the painting.

A French term meaning painting outdoors in natural light instead of in a studio.