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Taschen Basic Genre
Impressionism
On April 15th, 1874, in the Parisian studio of photographer Nadar, was the opening of the first group exhibition that was uninhibited by government interference and the dictates of an official selection committee. This date has gone down in the annals of art history because it marks the birth of the Impressionism. Impressionistic paintings now rank among the most popular works of art and are the pride of any museum or collection worldwide. However, in 1874 the public response to the exhibition, and to Impressionist painting, was not adoration but rather shock and even outrage. The Impressionists and the succeeding Neo-Impressionists were avant-gardist and revolutionary, paving the way for modern art. Present-day viewers, hardly realizing this revolutionary potential, can be content to enjoy the aesthetic of light and color. Artists featured in detail include: Frederic Bazille, Marie Braquemond, Gustave Caillebotte, Mary Cassat, Edgar Degas, Vincent van Gogh, Armand Guillaumin, Max Liebermann, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, Guiseppe de Nittis, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Medardo Rosso, Giovanni Segantini, John Singer Sargent, Georges Seurat, Paul Signac, Walter Richard Sickert, Alfred Sisley, Max Slevogt, Fritz von Uhde, and Federico Zandomeneghi. Each book in TASCHEN's "Basic Genre" series features: a detailed introduction with approximately 35 photographs, plus a timeline of the most important events (political, cultural, scientific, etc.) that took place during the time period; and a selection of the most important works of the epoch; each is presented on a 2-page spread with a full-page image and, on the facing page, a description/interpretation of the work and brief biography of the artist as well as additional information such as a reference work, portrait of the artist, and/or citations.
96 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 28, 2018
Introduction & Acknowledgements
--Impressionism: Reimagining Art
Endnotes
Selected Bibliography
List of Works Illustrated
Index of Names
Photo Credits
Imprint
--Impressionism: Reimagining Art
Endnotes
Selected Bibliography
List of Works Illustrated
Index of Names
Photo Credits
Imprint
February 27, 2018
** "In contravention of the existing rules of traditional painting, the works of the Impressionists seemed sketch, spontaneous and 'unfinished', as though they had been done in a few minutes and had not progressed beyond the preliminary stage. The rapid brushstrokes and the abandonment of painterly perfection are deliberate metaphors of the fleeting moment and the speed of everyday life."
My knowledge of Arts is meagre; only a few familiar names, "masterpieces" here and there; the popular ones; Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, van Gogh, Renoir, Pollock, Warhol, Juan Luna, Basquiat, Dali, Rothko, Monet, Munch, Yoko Ono, Yayoi Kusama, et cetera, et cetera. When I was a kid I drew stick figures on walls to my parents disappointment and years after I copied those animated characters I saw from cartoons then gave them to my classmates, some friends. I joined a couple of art-making contests in high school. I kept a bunch of sketches until I stopped. I can't remember when nor why. Sometimes I look at my hands and wonder if I still have the potential to create something of artistic value, of emotional passion with them. Sometimes I pick up a pen and try but all I can create is a two year old's stupid dribble. Whenever I take a different route on my way home from my favorite theatre, I always see a Picasso quote painted on a wall, "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." and I smile to myself every time — somehow sad, somehow relieved.
I have been discouraged from taking an Art degree ('There's no money in it.', 'We have no money.', 'You'll starve.', 'There's no future in that.'). I got discouraged and second guessed my own ability. Of course I knew I was an average. But in contrary to my melancholic disposition and my thoughts which are often plagued by the negatives I love lithe, colorful, bright, pastel-like, gouache paintings. When I relocated to another country and spent my birthday alone, I went to the National Gallery and saw paintings from my favorite art movement: Impressionism. It was an eye-opening experience and it's one of the most unforgettable birthdays I've ever had and most of them were forgettable.
Impressionism isn't always light nor is it always bright yet there is something in the movement that endears it to me especially Sisley and Monet's works. They give me a sense of peace and the impermanence of everything surrounding me which makes me all the more appreciative of them. The exhibit featured Renoir, Stevens, Sisley, Cézanne, Morisot, Signac, Seurat, and Monet. Monet painted over 200 water lilies and, luckily in this life of mine, I had the chance to see one. It was utterly beautiful and astounding.
A picture of one of Monet's Water Lilies from his Water Lilies series taken by me:
WATER LILY POND, PINK HARMONY (1900) by Claude Monet
This book was short but I bought it cheap. The first part of the book was an introduction to Impressionism and tackled quite a number of artworks and art movements which gave way to the movement, Neo-Classicism, Realism, and Naturalism, and Japanese woodcuts. The second part featured a number of painters, both obscure and popular, male and female, and their contribution to the movement (Cézanne not included!). Grimme's description of each artwork as discussed in each page is very insightful. Overall, it seemed quite reductive and only covered the influence and birth of Impressionism (and Neo-Impressionism, Pointillism) in European countries. Nevertheless, it's a portable book, an introduction that can suffice, and comes with beautiful pictures.
My knowledge of Arts is meagre; only a few familiar names, "masterpieces" here and there; the popular ones; Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, van Gogh, Renoir, Pollock, Warhol, Juan Luna, Basquiat, Dali, Rothko, Monet, Munch, Yoko Ono, Yayoi Kusama, et cetera, et cetera. When I was a kid I drew stick figures on walls to my parents disappointment and years after I copied those animated characters I saw from cartoons then gave them to my classmates, some friends. I joined a couple of art-making contests in high school. I kept a bunch of sketches until I stopped. I can't remember when nor why. Sometimes I look at my hands and wonder if I still have the potential to create something of artistic value, of emotional passion with them. Sometimes I pick up a pen and try but all I can create is a two year old's stupid dribble. Whenever I take a different route on my way home from my favorite theatre, I always see a Picasso quote painted on a wall, "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." and I smile to myself every time — somehow sad, somehow relieved.
I have been discouraged from taking an Art degree ('There's no money in it.', 'We have no money.', 'You'll starve.', 'There's no future in that.'). I got discouraged and second guessed my own ability. Of course I knew I was an average. But in contrary to my melancholic disposition and my thoughts which are often plagued by the negatives I love lithe, colorful, bright, pastel-like, gouache paintings. When I relocated to another country and spent my birthday alone, I went to the National Gallery and saw paintings from my favorite art movement: Impressionism. It was an eye-opening experience and it's one of the most unforgettable birthdays I've ever had and most of them were forgettable.
Impressionism isn't always light nor is it always bright yet there is something in the movement that endears it to me especially Sisley and Monet's works. They give me a sense of peace and the impermanence of everything surrounding me which makes me all the more appreciative of them. The exhibit featured Renoir, Stevens, Sisley, Cézanne, Morisot, Signac, Seurat, and Monet. Monet painted over 200 water lilies and, luckily in this life of mine, I had the chance to see one. It was utterly beautiful and astounding.
A picture of one of Monet's Water Lilies from his Water Lilies series taken by me:
WATER LILY POND, PINK HARMONY (1900) by Claude Monet
This book was short but I bought it cheap. The first part of the book was an introduction to Impressionism and tackled quite a number of artworks and art movements which gave way to the movement, Neo-Classicism, Realism, and Naturalism, and Japanese woodcuts. The second part featured a number of painters, both obscure and popular, male and female, and their contribution to the movement (Cézanne not included!). Grimme's description of each artwork as discussed in each page is very insightful. Overall, it seemed quite reductive and only covered the influence and birth of Impressionism (and Neo-Impressionism, Pointillism) in European countries. Nevertheless, it's a portable book, an introduction that can suffice, and comes with beautiful pictures.
October 22, 2016
This is a 5-star art book if there was ever one: the images are impeccable, the format is engaging and the text (as just about everything I have read from Norbert Wolf) is informative and compelling. This is a true page-turner! Should be of an interest to the casual art lover and also to the dedicated art history student.
The author quotes Kierkegaard: "Nothing is as swift as the blink of an eye, and yet it is commensurable with the content of the eternal".
The content of the eternal comprises, to my own understanding, the "impressions" of impressionism.
The author quotes Kierkegaard: "Nothing is as swift as the blink of an eye, and yet it is commensurable with the content of the eternal".
The content of the eternal comprises, to my own understanding, the "impressions" of impressionism.
September 7, 2022
"Beauty is in nature, and we encounter it in reality in a great variety of forms. Once we are aware of it, it belongs to art, or rather the artist who can recognize it." - Gustave Courbet
January 14, 2024
A really great introduction to Impressionism and it's key figures, great if you have little knowledge on impressionism or you're just looking to brush up.
November 21, 2016
I fell in love with Impressionist art when I was a middle school student on a field trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Art. My continued exposure to the movement came from an AP Art History class in high school. After that class, I was completely hooked on the work of Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Signac, etc. Yes, I understand these artists are not strictly part of the Impressionist movement; however, they all have a very common style in their work. I've seen many of these pieces up close in museums (Minneapolis and Chicago), but now I am dying to go to Paris to the Musee D'Orsay to see more of these paintings. This book was well written and extremely interesting. I am certainly not an expert in the field, just a novice fan of beautiful art. I have been asked by several people why this period...it's hard to explain, other than to say, when I look at these pieces, I feel an incredible sense of beauty and peace. No other art has given me that feeling. For anyone who wants to learn more about this period, the artists, the history...this is a must-read. The pictures are beautifully reproduced and high-quality. The layout was perfect.
February 1, 2023
ooohhhh nice
Read
March 18, 2024Meagre as my knowledge in arts is, I know there is a specific type of paintings I tend to be drawn to, and I found its language in Impressionism. Light and colours are just little wonders in life.
April 29, 2017
fabulous resource and absolutely beautiful
April 22, 2020
Great book full of short biographic stories about the biggest names and influences within Impressionism. To my shame, I was not familiar with very talented female impressionists of the time. Luckily, the book introduced to me to several of them.
August 2, 2023
Nice pictures
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews