French impressionism was a movement in painting that developed from about 1867 to 1886. It represents an attempt to reconcile the opposing forces of realism and abstraction.
The most significant painters associated with this movement were Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, and Edgar Degas. The impressionists sought to capture the momentary, transient effects of light and color. They used short brushstrokes and soft colors to depict scenes of everyday life.
The realist elements of their work can be seen in their depictions of objects such as furniture or flowers which they painted with great attention to detail. The abstract elements can be found in the way they used color and texture to convey light, shadow and movement. The impressionists were initially criticized by the art establishment but eventually gained acceptance for their work which has since been celebrated for its beauty and innovation.
French impressionism had a significant influence on subsequent art movements such as post-impressionism, cubism and fauvism among others. Many of the greatest painters of the 20th century were influenced by impressionism such as Pablo Picasso who produced works that were strongly influenced by the work of Vincent van Gogh.
