Edgar Degas (1834-1917) was a French Impressionist painter. Impressionist because of his loose brushwork and the choice and treatment of his subject matter. Influenced by Photography. He painted, with unusual compositions, as if it were a snapshot. He himself hated Impressionism, because it was connected with being 'accidental' or 'incomplete'. He worked calculatingly hard but aimed to appear unstudied. Has been called linear Impressionist , was influenced by Ingres, who told him to do 'lines and more lines'.

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Impressionism and Post-Impressionism - Impressionism - Painting

5 important questions on Impressionism and Post-Impressionism - Impressionism - Painting

What can you tell about Pierre-Auguste Renoir?

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) was a French Impressionist painter.
Painted about the joys of the middle class in the belle epoque.

Characters are handsome and pretty.

Painted outdoors.
Characters seem aware they're being watched (photographic effect).

Who was Berthe Morisot?

Berthe Morisot (1841-1895) was a French Impressionist painter.
The first women to exhibit at the first Impressionist exhibition.
Most daring of all Impressionist painters (looseness of brushwork, small rapid moves).

Who was Edgar Degas?

Edgar Degas (1834-1917) was a French Impressionist painter.
Impressionist because of his loose brushwork and the choice and treatment of his subject matter.
Influenced by Photography.

He painted, with unusual compositions, as if it were a snapshot.

He himself hated Impressionism, because it was connected with being "accidental" or "incomplete".

He worked calculatingly hard but aimed to appear unstudied.

Has been called linear Impressionist, was influenced by Ingres, who told him to do "lines and more lines".

Who was Mary Cassatt?

Mary Cassatt (1844-1925) was an American Impressionist painter.
Close friend to Degas who would never have believed a women could paint that well.
Influenced by Japanese prints.
Uses typical Impressionist light effects.
Her art anticipates the art of the next century:

Choice to manipulate facts for art.

Who was James Abbott McNeill Whistler?

James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) was an American Impressionist painter.
In contrast to other Impressionists, he never used broken color or light effects.
Believed in art for art's sake, not with other motives.
Paintings are first an arrangement and only secondary a portrait.
His work, like Cassatt's, foreshadows 20th century art.