4.1 Video: Impressionism

How were Impressionist paintings generally perceived when they were first exhibited in Paris in 1874?

• As highly finished and detailed masterpieces.

• As unfinished, slapdash, and lowbrow.

• As dramatic stories from history or mythology.

• As traditional works of art worthy of immediate esteem.

What was a hallmark technique of Impressionist artists that distinguished their work from traditional studio-based approaches?

• Using large canvases to depict grand historical narratives.

• Gradually building up tonal gradations with many layers of glazes.

• Painting primarily outdoors to capture fleeting moments of light and atmosphere.

• Focusing on strongly defined figures and harmonious compositions.

How did the term "Impressionism" originate?

• It was chosen by the artists themselves to describe their shared artistic manifesto.

• It was a positive term coined by a supportive art critic, Jules Castagnary.

• It was initially an insult from a critic who viewed the paintings as unfinished sketches.

• It was derived from the French Royal Academy's official classification of the new art style.

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What was a key characteristic of Impressionist painting?

• Depicting objects exactly as they are in reality.

• Focusing on the underlying structure and form of subjects.

• Capturing the visual sensation of subjects as they appear to the artist.

• Using dark and dramatic colors to convey emotion.

How did the advent of photography influence Impressionist painters?

• It forced painters to focus more on realistic and detailed depictions.

• It freed painting from the constraints of realism, allowing for more expressive and tactile approaches.

• It led to a decline in the popularity of painting as an art form.

• It encouraged painters to use only black and white colors in their works.