Impressionism vs. Postimpressionism — What's the Difference?

Avoids detailed outlines, focusing instead on the overall impression.

Characterized by distinct brushstrokes and bold color use.

Often depicts outdoor scenes and natural light.

An art movement reacting to Impressionism, emphasizing structure and symbolism.

Characterized by loose brushwork and vibrant color palettes.

Moves towards abstraction and diverse subjects.

An art movement focusing on capturing light and momentary visual effects.

Paves the way for modern art movements like Expressionism and Cubism.

Emphasizes spontaneity and the artist’s immediate visual perception.

Focuses on the artist’s emotional response and individual vision.

Impressionism is a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage of time), ordinary subject matter, inclusion of movement as a crucial element of human perception and experience, and unusual visual angles. Impressionism originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s.

A school of painting in France in the late 1800s that rejected the objective naturalism of impressionism and used form and color in more personally expressive ways.

Often Impressionism A theory or style of painting originating and developed in France during the 1870s, characterized by concentration on the immediate visual impression produced by a scene and by the use of unmixed primary colors and small strokes to simulate actual reflected light.

(arts) A genre of painting that rejected the naturalism of impressionism, using colour and form in more expressive manners.

A literary style characterized by the use of details and mental associations to evoke subjective and sensory impressions rather than the re-creation of objective reality.

(Music) A style of art music of the late 1800s and early 1900s, often evoking a dreamy mood and characterized by modal or whole-tone scales, rich and often dissonant harmonies in unconventional progressions, and the avoidance of traditional forms.

(arts) a movement in art characterized by visible brush strokes, ordinary subject matters, and an emphasis on light and its changing qualities

(music genre) a style that avoided traditional harmony, and sought to invoke the impressions of the composer

(poetry) a style that used imagery and symbolism to portray the poet's impressions

The theory or method of suggesting an effect or impression without elaboration of the details; - a disignation of a recent fashion in painting and etching.

A school of late 19th century French painters who pictured appearances by strokes of unmixed colors to give the impression of reflected light

Key artists include Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, and Camille Pissarro.

Impressionism is an art movement focusing on capturing light and momentary visual effects with loose brushwork and vibrant colors.

Key artists include Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Henri Rousseau, and Georges Seurat.

Impressionism uses loose brushwork and focuses on light and color, often avoiding detailed outlines.

"Impression, Sunrise" by Claude Monet is a famous work that gave the movement its name.

Postimpressionism is a movement that reacted to Impressionism, emphasizing more structure, symbolism, and emotional expression.

The main focus is on capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere.

Impressionism broke away from academic traditions and influenced the development of modern art.

Impressionist artists often depict outdoor scenes, landscapes, and moments of everyday life.

Postimpressionist artists explore diverse subjects, often with more abstract and symbolic elements.

Postimpressionism paved the way for movements like Expressionism and Cubism by exploring new forms and techniques.

The main focus is on structure, symbolism, and conveying emotional depth.

Postimpressionism uses distinct brushstrokes, bold colors, and emphasizes geometric forms and emotional expression.

Impressionism focuses on natural light and color; Postimpressionism uses color more boldly and symbolically.

"Starry Night" by Vincent van Gogh is a famous work known for its emotional and symbolic depth.