Monet & Manet Are Not The Same Artist- Assignment 5

Impressionalist

Thomas Tiernan

Assignment 5

            In 1874, a group of artists called the Anonymous Society of Painters started an exhibition in Paris, France that launched the Impressionist movement.  Impressionism is defined as the visual impression of the moment especially in terms of the shifting of light and color. They started this exhibition because for years, the “Salon” has rejected thousands of amazing artwork. This frustrated the society, and thus they initiated the “Salon des Refuses”, which exhibited all the artwork that was rejected by the Salon. The Anonymous Society of Painter’s key leaders were: Claude Monet, Pierre Renoir, Camille Pissarro, and Edouard Manet. Manet impressed many people with his work in the “Salon des Refuses” especially with his piece, Luncheon on the Grass.  This painting amazed the public because Manet was able to capture modern life in his art, which was proof to masters of museums or the Salon judges, that he was worthy of their acknowledgement.  

Impressionist painting styles include thin yet visible brush strokes, accurate depiction of light, movement, and unusual visual angles. Impressionist art was soon followed by impressionist music and even literature. All these qualities are noticed in Manet’s artwork, which makes Luncheon on the Grass, a touchstone of modern art. Another famous artist who impacted the Impressionist movement was Claude Monet and his piece, Impression: Sunrise. 

I really enjoy this picture because of its simplicity. The choice in colors are fantastic, and Monet depicted the sensation of a landscape which became popular to draw. Monet continued painting beautiful landscapes such as Autumn Effect at Argenteuil, which depicts impressionism perfectly. There are little flicks of paint which portray fall and the combination of white and blue to show light being reflected off the water.

Monet and Manet are very similar names, but they are different artists who were both the face of the impressionist art movement. They set the bar for landscape art and began modern art.