Impressionism – 1874 to 1886: A Complete Guide to the Movement That Changed Art Forever

Impressionism is more than just a style—it’s a revolution that reshaped modern art. Between 1874 and 1886, a group of bold French painters rejected tradition and embraced spontaneity, light, and color. In this guide, you’ll discover what defines Impressionism, who the key artists were, and why this short but powerful period still influences the art world today.

What Is Impressionism?

Impressionism is an art movement that began in France in the late 19th century. Instead of painting historical scenes or portraits in studios, artists took their canvases outdoors and captured the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. They used loose, visible brushstrokes and often painted landscapes, urban life, or everyday people.

Key Characteristics of Impressionist Art:

• Loose brushwork that gives a sketch-like feel

• Light-filled scenes painted en plein air (outdoors)

• Bright, unblended colors placed side by side

• Focus on modern life, not mythology or history

• Capturing the moment, rather than detailed realism

The First Impressionist Exhibition – 1874

The official birth of Impressionism is marked by the first independent exhibition in Paris in 1874, held at the studio of photographer Nadar. It included works by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, and others. The term "Impressionism" came from a critic’s sarcastic comment on Monet’s painting Impression, Sunrise (Impression, soleil levant).

Major Impressionist Artists (1874–1886)

Claude Monet

Known for his shimmering water lilies and hazy haystacks, Monet is perhaps the most iconic Impressionist. His work focused on capturing light and mood at different times of day.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Renoir painted joyful scenes of dance halls, picnics, and social life. His use of warm colors and soft edges created an intimate, romantic feel.

Edgar Degas

Degas captured the behind-the-scenes world of ballet dancers, laundresses, and horse races. He often worked with pastels and had a more structured style than some of his peers.

Camille Pissarro

Pissarro was a master of rural landscapes and city scenes. As a mentor to younger artists, he played a key role in the Impressionist circle.

Berthe Morisot

One of the few women in the movement, Morisot painted domestic life and women with freshness and lightness.

Why Impressionism Matters Today

Impressionism broke the rules of academic art and paved the way for modern movements like Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, and Abstract Expressionism. It challenged how people view art—less about perfection, more about perception and feeling.

Collectors and museums worldwide continue to value Impressionist art highly. Major auction houses regularly set records for paintings by Monet, Renoir, and their peers.

Final Thoughts: Impressionism Beyond 1886

While the final group exhibition was held in 1886, Impressionism didn’t disappear. It evolved. Artists like Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Seurat took its lessons and pushed boundaries even further. But the core legacy of Impressionism remains: art as a moment of life, captured in color and light.