Post-Impressionism

Some artists wanted to try new things.

They did not want to just paint light. They used very bright colors. Some artists used thick paint.

One artist used tiny dots of color. Another artist used shapes to make things look solid. They also used colors that were not real. This helped them show their feelings. These artists made many different kinds of art.

Post-Impressionism was a big movement in French art. It began around 1886.

These artists wanted to try new ways of painting. They did not want to just show light and color. Some artists felt that Impressionist art lacked structure. Paul Cézanne wanted to make art feel solid. He did this by using basic shapes.

Other artists used color to show their feelings. Vincent van Gogh used bright colors and thick paint. This helped show his state of mind. Georges Seurat used a special way called pointillism. He used tiny dots of color to make his art.

This method was very careful and scientific. The name Post-Impressionism was first used by Roger Fry. He used the term to group these different artists. They did not always agree on one way to work. Some used unnatural colors to express ideas. Others focused on harmony and shapes. This era helped lead to even newer styles of art.

Post-Impressionism was a major movement in French art. It grew from the ideas of Impressionism. This period lasted roughly from 1886 to 1905.

Artists wanted to move beyond just showing light. They felt Impressionism lacked enough structure or meaning. Instead, they focused on abstract qualities and symbols. This movement included many different styles like Neo-Impressionism and Symbolism. It also included groups like Les Nabis and the Pont-Aven School. These artists wanted to express more than what they saw. They used art to share deep ideas and feelings.

Artists used many different ways to create their work. Some used thick layers of paint called impasto. This made the surface of the painting look bumpy.

Others used unnatural colors to show a mood. Paul Cézanne reduced objects to their basic geometric shapes. He wanted to make art feel solid and durable. Georges Seurat used a method called pointillism. This involved using tiny dots of color in a scientific way. Vincent van Gogh used vibrant colors and strong brushstrokes. His goal was to show his own state of mind. These methods changed how people looked at a canvas.

Finding a name for this group took some time. The term Post-Impressionism was first used by Roger Fry in 1906.

A critic named Frank Rutter used it in 1910. He described the artist Othon Friesz as a leader. Fry used the name for a big show in London. The exhibition was called Manet and the Post-Impressionists. He chose the name because it was very vague. It simply described their time compared to the Impressionists. This helped group many different artists together for convenience. It gave a name to a time of big change.

Many famous names belong to this era of art. Paul Cézanne is often called the father of Post-Impressionism. Other key artists were Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh. Georges Seurat was also a very important figure.

The artist Camille Pissarro even tried Neo-Impressionist ideas. He called pointillism a type of scientific Impressionism. Some artists belonged to the Synthetism style in 1889. Others followed the Pont-Aven School in Brittany. These artists did not always agree on one way to paint. They were a diverse group with many different goals. Each person brought a unique vision to the movement.

Post-Impressionism helped lead to many newer art styles. It paved the way for Fauvism and Cubism. In North America, the movement also grew. Canadian artists like Tom Thomson and Emily Carr were part of it.

John Lyman even studied with the famous painter Matisse. This movement shows how art is always moving forward. It connects the old ways of painting to modern ideas. Today, many museums hold these works for us to see. They help us understand how art changed forever. It remains a vital part of art history.

Post-Impressionism was a major movement in French art. It developed roughly between 1886 and 1905. This period began after the last Impressionist exhibition. It ended around the birth of Fauvism.

The movement was a reaction against Impressionism. Impressionists focused on the naturalistic depiction of light and color. Post-Impressionists felt this approach was too trivial. They believed Impressionism lost too much structure. They wanted to emphasize abstract qualities or symbolic content. This movement changed how artists viewed the purpose of a painting.

Artists used many different techniques to achieve their goals. Some used impasto, which is the thick application of paint. This creates a physical texture on the canvas. Others used unnatural or modified colors. They did this for expressive effect rather than realism. Some artists focused on geometric forms. They reduced complex objects to basic shapes.

This helped create a sense of order. Others used a scientific approach to color and composition. This was a very different way to build a picture. Each artist had a unique method for expressing their vision.

Several distinct styles emerged during this era. Neo-Impressionism used a method called pointillism. This involved the systematic use of tiny dots of color. Georges Seurat was a leader in this style. Another style was Cloisonnism. This term was introduced in 1888 by Édouard Dujardin. It was later applied to the work of Émile Bernard. There was also Synthetism. This term was coined in 1889. It distinguished the work of Paul Gauguin and Bernard from traditional Impressionists.

Other groups included Les Nabis and the Pont-Aven School. The Pont-Aven School referred to artists working in Brittany.

History shows that the term Post-Impressionism was not used immediately. Art critic Roger Fry first used the term in 1906. In 1910, critic Frank Rutter used it in a review. He described Othon Friesz as a "post-impressionist leader." Fry then organized an exhibition in London. It was titled "Manet and the Post-Impressionists." Fry chose this name for convenience. He said it was the most non-committal name. It simply described the artists' position in time relative to Impressionism. This helped group many different artists under one label.

Many significant artists defined the movement. Paul Cézanne is often called the father of Post-Impressionism. He wanted to make art solid and durable. He did this by using basic shapes. Vincent van Gogh used vibrant colors and conspicuous brushstrokes. He used these to convey his feelings and state of mind. Paul Gauguin was another principal artist. Georges Seurat focused on the scientific application of color.

Even Camille Pissarro experimented with Neo-Impressionist ideas. He called pointillism "scientific Impressionism" during the mid-1880s.

Post-Impressionism had a wide impact across the world. In North America, it became an important influence. Canadian Post-Impressionism is considered an offshoot of the French movement. Artists like Tom Thomson and Emily Carr were part of this tradition. John Lyman studied with the famous painter Matisse. He even wrote in defense of the term.

The movement also connects to broader art history. It paved the way for Cubism and Fauvism. While Cubism was seen as a fresh start, Post-Impressionism provided the foundation. It bridged the gap between traditional art and modernism.

Understanding Post-Impressionism requires looking at its many connections. It relates to Symbolism, which focuses on individual approaches and non-realist subject matter. It also connects to the broader concept of Modernism. Modernism is seen as a central movement in international Western civilization. Some scholars, like Alan Bowness, expanded the period to 1914. This marks the start of World War I. The war signaled a major break in European cultural history. Post-Impressionism remains a vital subject for study in museums today.