Overview

Encounter the most famous artistic movement in history with this course that examines the work of Monet, Degas, Manet, Renoir, and many other geniuses. This course, designated as Course No. 7187, delves into the context of upheaval during which these artists emerged, including the rebuilding of Paris, the rise of industrialism, and the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War.

The Impressionists displayed their startling and shocking works in a series of exhibitions from 1874 to 1886. By the 1890s, this “loose coalition” of artists had created the most famous artistic movement in history, providing a new, intensely personal vision of the world.

Course Description

This series of lectures will introduce you to the style, subject, and function of Impressionist painting by artists including Monet, Renoir, Cassatt, Cézanne, Toulouse-Lautrec, and van Gogh. Separate analysis is given to the important Impressionist exhibitions and their contemporary critics, such as the writer Baudelaire. Key topics covered include the public and private worlds of Parisian modernity, life in the countryside, the new leisure class, and the influential legacy of Impressionism.

One of the legacies of Impressionism is to leave the viewer with a profound sense of life—captured on the canvas through motion, light, and color. This course is an absorbing lesson in the marvelous cultural, historical, and visual experiences that great paintings provide.

Course Outline

• The Realist and the Idealist

Explore the tensions in the French art world during the first international exhibitions in 1855, focusing on the rivalry between Classical and Romantic traditions, alongside the emergence of Realism. (32 min)

• Napoleon III’s Paris

Understand the modernization efforts of Napoleon III and how they disrupted the lives of Parisians, fundamentally altering the city’s landscape. (30 min)

• Baudelaire and the Definition of Modernism

Discover how poet and art critic Charles Baudelaire defined modern art and sought artists who embodied his ideals. (30 min)

• The Shock of the New

Analyze Edouard Manet’s groundbreaking works that transcended traditional art forms and reflected modern life. (30 min)

• The Painters of Modern Life

Learn about the group of young painters led by Manet who sought to push the boundaries of painting into modern life, including key figures like Monet and Degas. (30 min)

6. Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Examine Renoir’s sensual and experimental approach to painting, showcasing his diverse compositions and subjects. (30 min)

• Impressions in the Countryside

Investigate the collaborative efforts of Monet, Renoir, Sisley, and Pissarro in the landscapes along the Seine, emphasizing modernity and materiality. (30 min)

8. Paris under Siege

Explore the impact of the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune on the lives and works of Impressionist artists. (32 min)

9. The First Exhibition

Discover the formation of the Impressionist group and their groundbreaking exhibition in 1874, which marked a pivotal moment in art history. (30 min)

• Monet and Renoir in Argenteuil

Delve into the summer of 1874 spent by Monet and Renoir in Argenteuil, a classic moment of suburban Impressionism. (30 min)

• Cézanne and Pissarro in Pontoise

Learn about the artistic circle around Pissarro in Pontoise and the significance of Cézanne’s contributions. (30 min)

• Berthe Morisot

Explore the career of Berthe Morisot, the first woman to achieve recognition in French art, and her unique perspective as a female artist. (30 min)

• The Third Exhibition

Analyze the importance of the third Impressionist Exhibition organized by Gustave Caillebotte and its lasting impact on the movement. (30 min)

• Edgar Degas

Discover how Degas represented the modern urban condition through his innovative works and interactions of figures with their settings. (30 min)

• Gustave Caillebotte

Examine Caillebotte's role as both a patron and a significant artist within the Impressionist movement. (30 min)

• Mary Cassatt

Learn about Mary Cassatt's contributions as the only American painter in the Impressionist circle, focusing on her depictions of women's lives. (30 min)

• Manet’s Later Works

Reassess Manet's later works and his evolution as an artist, including his Impressionist experiments. (30 min)

• Departures

Investigate the growing dissatisfaction of Renoir and Monet with the Impressionist group dynamics and their search for new subjects. (30 min)

• Paul Gauguin

Explore Gauguin's journey from banker to painter and his significant role in the Impressionist exhibitions. (30 min)

20. The Final Exhibition

Understand the collaboration between Pissarro and Seurat that marked the end of the Impressionist experiment at the final exhibition in 1886. (30 min)

21. The Studio of the South—Van Gogh and Gauguin

Discover the artistic brotherhood formed by Van Gogh and Gauguin in Arles and its impact on their works. (30 min)

• Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Analyze Toulouse-Lautrec's unique contributions as a second-generation Impressionist and his exploration of Parisian life. (31 min)

• The Nabis

Learn about the Nabis group and how they expanded the informal art of Impressionism into new realms of Parisian interiors. (31 min)

• “La Fin”

Conclude with the evolution of the Impressionists post-final exhibition, focusing on their independent works and series paintings. (32 min)