Discover how scenes of daily life and delicate dabs of color shocked the
art world establishment.
In this TASCHEN Basic Art introduction to Impressionism, we explore the
artists, subjects, and techniques that first brought the easel out of
the studio and shifted artistic attention from history, religion, or
portraiture to the evanescent ebb and flow of modern life.
As we tour the theaters, bars, and parks of Paris and beyond, we take in
the movement's radical innovations in style and subject, from the
principle of plein air painting to the rapid, broken brushwork that
allowed the Impressionists to emphasize spontaneity, movement, and the
changing qualities of light. We take a close look at their unusual new
perspectives and their fresh palette of pure, unblended colors,
including many vividly bright shades that brought a whole new level of
chromatic intensity to the canvas.
Along the way, we recognize Impressionism's established greats, such as
Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, and Camille Pissarro, as well
as many associated artists worthy of closer attention, including Marie
Bracquemond, Medardo Rosso, and Fritz von Uhde.
About the series
Born back in 1985, the Basic Art Series has evolved into the
best-selling art book collection ever published. Each book in TASCHEN's
Basic Art History series features:
approximately 100 color illustrations with explanatory captions
a detailed, illustrated introduction
a selection of the most important works of the epoch, each presented on
a two-page spread with a full-page image and accompanying
interpretation, as well as a portrait and brief biography of the artist
