Impressionist Paintings

How Paris and Claude Monet Shaped Impressionist Artwork

This collection offers 6,138 hand-painted oil reproductions of impressionist artwork that you can have painted for your own walls. The movement began with a group of Paris-based artists who held independent exhibitions during the 1870s and 1880s ¹. In the early 1860s, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, and Frédéric Bazille met while studying under the academic artist Charles Gleyre ¹.

These young painters often met at the Café Guerbois in Paris to discuss their new ideas ¹. In December 1873, they founded the Anonymous Society to exhibit their work independently ¹. Their first independent exhibition was held in April 1874 at the studio of the photographer Nadar ¹.

The name of the style came from a single painting by Claude Monet called Impression, Sunrise ¹. A critic used the title satirically in an 1874 review, but the artists embraced the term ¹. You can bring this historic moment home with our hand-painted recreation of Impression, Sunrise, which is currently housed in Paris ¹.

The Techniques of Edgar Degas and the French Masters

These painters changed how art was made by working outdoors. They used new, premixed paints in tin tubes, which let them paint spontaneously ¹. Instead of dark, traditional backgrounds, they began using white or off-white canvases by the 1880s ¹. This made their colors look much brighter. Camille Pissarro was the only artist who showed his work at all eight of the Paris exhibitions ¹.

Japanese ukiyo-e art prints significantly influenced the "snapshot" angles and unconventional compositions of Impressionism ¹. Edgar Degas used these unique angles in his paintings of Parisian dancers. Later, Edgar Degas began to pursue sculpture in the 1880s, creating as many as 150 sculptures during his lifetime ¹. Only one of his sculptures, Little Dancer of Fourteen Years, was exhibited during his lifetime ¹.

The Bright Palettes of Pierre-Auguste Renoir and the Women Impressionists

You can explore these bright colors in Pierre-Auguste Renoir's collection. His famous painting, Dance at Le Moulin de the Galette, shows people enjoying Parisian life under flickering sunlight ¹. However, Renoir turned away from Impressionism for a time during the 1880s ¹. These artists often relied on art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel, who kept their works accessible to the public ¹.

Another beautiful option is the delicate floral work Roses by Berthe Morisot, one of the prominent women of the movement ¹. Our studio artists recreate Roses brushstroke by brushstroke, capturing every soft petal and subtle shade of green.

Selecting Your Impressionist Canvas and Size

Choosing the right piece depends on your room's light and space. Many of these works are featured among the top hundred masterpieces of art history. For a peaceful bedroom, you might choose The Japanese Bridge from Claude Monet's catalog. This painting shows his famous water lily pond in Giverny.

Every reproduction is hand-painted in oil on museum-grade linen. Prices in this collection start from $249.95, depending on the size you select. Seven sizes are listed for each work, but you can commission any custom size or original proportion through our bespoke sizing form. You can also find other most renowned canvases to match your home's decor.

Questions about Impressionism

What defines Impressionist art?

Impressionist art is defined by visible brushstrokes, bright colors, and an emphasis on light. Artists painted outdoors to capture fleeting moments and shifting atmospheric effects. They often used unconventional visual angles inspired by Japanese prints.

What is the most famous Impressionist artwork?

Claude Monet's 1872 painting, Impression, Sunrise, is widely considered the most famous Impressionist artwork because it gave the entire movement its name. Another highly famous masterpiece is Pierre-Auguste Renoir's Dance at Le Moulin de the Galette.

Who were the key artists of the Impressionist movement?

The movement was led by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, and Edgar Degas [f:5, f:8]. Women artists like Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt also played crucial roles in shaping the style.

Sources

1. en.wikipedia.org