Monet And The Impressionists

Impressionism was more than a style. It was a revolution in thinking that changed the art world forever. In this richly illustrated introduction to the movement, art historian Patrick Bade explains how Impressionism began, what it stood for, and why it was so important, taking you from the rigid traditionalism of the pre-Impressionist French art establishment to the insightful appreciation of life ushered in by a handful of maverick painters.

In a glorious tour of hundreds of renowned paintings, Monet and the Impressionists presents the great works of Manet, Degas, Renoir, Morisot, Pissarro, and other masters. Page by page, you will discover Renoir's riveting portraits, Manet's romantic garden paintings, Monet's famed water lilies, Sisley's lively regatta scene, and Degas's intimate views of female forms.

Using accessible language, the author describes the philosophy and techniques of the movement, such as why antique Japanese prints, natural themes including water and gardens, and the gritty streets of Paris's working-class neighbourhoods all held such strong appeal for the Impressionists.

Looking at the Post-Impressionists, the author turns to Van Gogh, Seurat, Gauguin, Cezanne, and others, exploring how they drew upon earlier artists' work to take their ideas to the next level.

With a beautifully reproduced painting on nearly every page, this book is a glorious celebration of what may be the most famous movement in art history.