Impressionist paintings: when art becomes emotion

An ‘impression’ – an impression is always something subjective, shaped by one’s own experiences, emotions and ideas. Impressionism broke with convention and opened up space for individuality, sensuality and spontaneous perception. At the heart of Impressionist paintings were no longer perfect compositions or historical scenes, but the moment as it was experienced. Light, colour and movement merged to create an overall emotional impression.

The history of Impressionism began in 19th-century France with a group of young artists who rebelled against the rigid rules of academic painting. Instead of idealised depictions, they sought to capture fleeting impressions and the moods of the moment in Impressionist paintings. The term “Impressionism” derives from the Latin “impressio” (“impression”) and was inspired by Claude Monet’s painting “Impression – soleil levant”, which was exhibited in 1874 at the movement’s first exhibition. What was originally intended as a term of derision was embraced with confidence by the artists themselves.

Characteristic features of Impressionist paintings include spontaneous, visible brushstrokes, vibrant colours and the depiction of natural lighting conditions – often painted directly outdoors. The focus was not on clear contours, but on subjective perception and atmosphere. From its country of origin, France, the style spread across Europe; German painters such as Max Liebermann and Lovis Corinth also played a significant role in shaping it. Between around 1860 and 1920, Impressionism had a lasting influence on art – to this day, it is regarded as a forerunner of Modernism.

Characteristics of Impressionism

Impressionist paintings deliberately broke with the traditional rules of academic painting and sought new forms of expression in order to bring subjective experience to the fore. Instead of realistic depictions, the focus was now on fleeting impressions, atmospheric lighting and personal perception. Artists often chose seemingly random details in Impressionist paintings – like snapshots – and dispensed with clear contours. Impressionism thus became the starting point for modern painting and a rejection of rigid compositional principles.

Key characteristics of Impressionist painting include an innovative approach to colour, light and painting technique. The painters favoured bright, vibrant colours, which they placed side by side in short, visible brushstrokes rather than mixing them – creating a lively overall effect when viewed from a distance. Particularly characteristic of Impressionist paintings was the interplay of light and shadow: different times of day, seasons or weather conditions had a significant influence on the painting’s overall effect. Painting outdoors, known as ‘plein air’ painting, also became the preferred method of working, in order to capture the atmosphere of a moment directly.

In terms of subject matter, Impressionist paintings focused on motifs from everyday life – ranging from urban bustle and leisure activities to expansive landscapes. Flower-filled meadows, fields, bodies of water and gardens provided the ideal setting for depicting light, colour and movement across large areas. People often receded into the background and were integrated into the scene rather casually. Impressionist painting, with its shimmering surfaces, loose brushstrokes and the dissolution of fixed contours, conveys an impression of lightness, spontaneity and emotional immediacy.

Famous Impressionist works

One of the best-known Impressionist paintings is undoubtedly “Impression – soleil levant” (1872) by Claude Monet, which translates as “Impression – Sunrise”. This painting, depicting a misty harbour at sunrise, gave the entire movement its name. With his light-filled Impressionist landscapes – such as the famous Water Lilies series – Monet is regarded as one of the movement’s most important pioneers. The Impressionist painting “Dance at the Moulin de la Galette” (1876) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir continues to captivate viewers to this day with its cheerful atmosphere and the interplay of light and shadow in a lively Parisian scene.

Alongside Monet and Renoir, many other artists shaped this era with their unique Impressionist paintings. Vincent van Gogh – often regarded as a latecomer to Impressionism – brought his own distinctive, emotional style to the movement with paintings such as “Starry Night” (1889) and “Café Terrace at Night”. Paul Gauguin, for his part, expanded Impressionist landscape painting with exotic and intense colours, as seen in ‘Riverbank’ or ‘Forest Landscape’. Camille Pissarro, another key figure, captured rural life in soft colour tones – for example, in the Impressionist painting “Apple Trees near Éragny”.

Impressionist paintings also met with a great response outside France. In Germany, Max Liebermann, Lovis Corinth and Max Slevogt were among the most significant exponents of Impressionist art. Liebermann’s Impressionist paintings, such as “Terrace of the Restaurant Jacob in Nienstedten on the Elbe” or “Flower Terrace in the Wannsee Garden”, impressively demonstrate how light and nature also became central motifs in German painting. Paul Cézanne – often seen as a bridge to Post-Impressionism – contributed a powerful, structured variation on the style with Impressionist paintings such as “Hilly Landscape” or “The Smoker”.

Contemporary Impressionism

Impressionism lives on in the 21st century too – in the works of contemporary artists who consciously draw on the tradition of this movement. Painters take up typical motifs and techniques of classical Impressionism and transpose them into the present day. Their Impressionist paintings depict everyday, often tranquil scenes full of atmosphere: a person in a garden, a walk against the light, life by the water. Particularly striking is the interplay of light, colour and mood, which enables the viewer to immerse themselves emotionally in the moment and experience what is depicted in an almost sensory way.

Today, Impressionist paintings are no longer seen as a radical departure from tradition, but as works of a style-defining era whose influence continues to this day. Its principles – the emphasis on light, the subjectivity of the gaze and the celebration of the moment – have influenced many modern art movements and are still regarded as timeless. This enduring fascination is also evident in the popularity of Impressionist exhibitions and auctions, where works by Monet, Renoir or Liebermann regularly fetch record prices. In contemporary art, Impressionism serves not only as a historical model but also as a source of inspiration for a sensual, personal visual language that retains its impact across generations. You can also buy Impressionist paintings on the Studierenden Kunstmarkt. Discover original works by, amongst others, Verena Fuchs, Bohdan Dobrivskyi, Sophie Bäumer, Josefine Däumer or Madita Kramer.

Frequently asked questions about Impressionism