Impressionism is a style of art that showcases natural light, movement, and moments.
Although today the original Impressionist painters are some of the most famous artists in history, they were laughed at by the public and derided by critics when they got their start.
Impressionism blossomed in the 1870s in France.
It was inspired by the radicalism of Realism, which portrayed modern subjects — instead of history, mythology, or religion.
Realist art emerged about 1850 and sought to represent ordinary life truthfully.
Realism also disregarded illusionism — the trick of representing three dimensions on a flat canvas.
Realist artists often showed their brushstrokes and ignored the rules of perspective.
Impressionists built on these ideas, creating often bright and breezy works with obvious brushstrokes, texture, unblended colors, and blurred forms.
At this time, Paris was undergoing a transformation into an industrialized cultural center.
Like Realists, the Impressionists found their subjects in everyday life and often painted the middle class at leisure in the new city.
