Impressionism. It all started in the 1870’s by a group of artist known as The Cooperative and Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors and Engravers. The days of defined lines were gone and now they pushed for short brushstrokes and many more colors compared to previous artistic eras. This created a much more rough looking picture and often times lacking small details found in other styles. With the technology improving in photography, it was often simpler to have a photograph taken if you were trying to achieve a style with fine details and smooth lines, so impressionism was able to focus on more abstract pieces. It is a very different style compared to anything else that cam before it but it has had a lasting effect on what approaches artist take when creating paintings.
Claude Monet, The Artist Garden at Vetheuil, 1880, Oil on Canvas, Vetheuil France.
One of the earliest and most famous impressionist painters is Oscar-Claude Monet, who was one of the founding members of the Cooperative and Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors and Engravers. His style inspired many of the other paintings to come out of this era. I think I tend to respond rather positively to most impressionistic paintings of various scenes depicting nature or people. I think this appeal is from the many colors used throughout. In this picture above, Monet’s The Artist Garden at Vetheuil 1880, I think his style makes the pictures pop. I think the style of imperfect brush strokes can make if feel more whimsical and childlike, perhaps how it feels for the children playing throughout the flowers. The colors are so bright and the contrast between the blue sky and the sunflowers just makes it feel like a warm summer day where you want nothing more than to be outside.
A Style Comparison
I think if Monet’s Garden painting was painted in a style such Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller’s Queen Marie Antoinette of France and two of her children walking in the park of Trianon (pictured below) it would feel like a very different subject matter. The Rococo style of this painting is much more prim and proper than children playing on a warm summer day. The focus is on the subjects of Marie Antoinette and her children. The light draws your eye to the people and the background is left dark. I enjoy that the Impressionistic style can leave a different impact each time you look at it. In Monet’s painting I have chosen to focus on the children in the garden, but you can just as easily be drawn to the lines of the house compared to the nature surrounding it.
Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller, Queen Marie Antoinette of France and two of her children walking in the park of Trianon, 1785, Oil on Canvas (Sweden, Nationalmuseum Stockholm)
Impressionism in Modern Times
I think Impressionism has had a long lasting effect on art. Today artist are free to use whatever styles they prefer and many follow the same ideas from this era. I would like to highlight a local Fairbanks artist, Nikki Kinne. Many of her watercolor paintings remind me of the impressionism feature such as her use of bright colors and brush strokes. Her painting that I have included below, titled Ribbons of Fire is a great example of how many of the techniques used during the impressionistic era can still be seen in art today. I really love how the fireweed does not have the small details of every flower, but you can still see how bright they are in the summer. Although this artist uses a different paint compared to mostly oil paintings in the 1870’s, the mixing watercolors can still create a similar effect.
Nikkinne, Ribbons of Fire, n.d., Water color on Yupo, Fairbanks, Alaska.
Works Cited
http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/gallery/FrenchImpressionists/intro/impressionists.html
http://www.claudemonetgallery.org/The-Artist’s-Garden-at-Vetheuil–1880.html
http://www.nikkinne.com/large-view/Flowers/186176-2-0-5145/Printmaking/Figurative.html?thumbnails=on
http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg86/gg86-51906.0.html
Algrimes ART/MUS/THR200 Blog 
I also liked some impressionist pieces, and was pleased to find someone else who does as well. I also really liked how you referenced a modern local artist working in a somewhat impressionist style as well. I also really liked Monet’s work
It was an excellent idea to compare two paintings with similar subject matter, but differing styles and eras. I think your contrasting and analysis of impressionistic painting and rococo style painting is pretty accurate. Bringing a modern artist, especially a local artist into the mix was an unexpected surprise. I’m impressed that you managed to find a work that undoubtedly has some impressionistic influences as well. Nikki’s watercolors are excellent, in my opinion, and I’m glad you featured her.