While today’s impressionist art is inspired by artists from a bygone era, this style of art is still revered today and visible on the walls of many of our homes.
Inspired by famous impressionist artists, interior designers reach for this classic style to decorate both traditional and contemporary spaces.
Why? Because impressionism is all about being bright, vibrant and bold with colour while creating an ‘impression’ of an object – mostly outdoors – that is normally quite subtle but ends up presenting itself as something larger than life.
What follows is a decorator’s dream – a glimpse at the old masters and the new beauties they’ve inspired.
1. Monet
As the founder of French impressionist painting, Claude Monet was known for painting the same scene over and over again during a different season or time of day. His aim was to depict the subtle differences of light and form that occur in the natural world. Many artists since have been inspired by his famous style, capturing the natural world using bold colour and short brushstrokes.
MOVING: The colour and forms of ‘Under The Venetian Bridge’ were inspired by the style of Monet.
2. Caillebotte
Another French painter, Gustave Caillebotte’s impressionism was slightly more realistic than his counterparts, perhaps explained by his early interest in photography. Often considered a ‘neo-impressionist’, Caillebotte’s works spanned a number of different styles. He’s best known for urban paintings ‘The Europe Bridge’ and ‘Paris Street; Rainy Day’, works that still inspire and excite artists today.
MYSTERIOUS: Intriguing and evocative, this impressionist print captures the mystery of a rainy day.
3. Renoir
French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir, one of the most famous artists of the 20th Century, celebrated feminine beauty and sensuality. One of his primary subjects were female nudes, but he also captured people in other intimate settings with plenty of light and colour.
Particularly suited to a bedroom or parents retreat, if you want to add a touch of sensuality to a room, think Renoir.
BEAUTY: Add a feminine touch with impressionist art that celebrates colour and the female form.
4. Seurat
French post-impressionist painter Georges Seurat is known for creating the Pointillist method of painting, which involves using small dot-like strokes of colour.
Tragically, for someone who influenced a generation of artists, Seurat’s life was cut short at 31 when he died from an unknown disease. His first born child died two weeks later, his unborn child at birth and his partner Madeleine Knobloch – the subject of his painting Young Woman Powdering Herself – also died at age 35 from cirrhosis of the liver. Such tragedy and such wasted talented.
MASTERY: ‘Wild Flowers’ draws from Seurat’s style of painting, bringing the space alive.
5. Van Gogh
How did such despair generate such a rich and remarkable body of work? Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh is considered a post impressionist painter, but how can we exclude him from an article about impressionism when his broad brushstrokes, use of colour and ability to convey emotion have influenced so many.
Get into the spirit of Van Gogh with artwork that epitomises summer – a vase of sunflowers, of course!
MELLOW YELLOW: Art depicting ‘Sunflowers’ will bring sunshine into your home all year round.
6. Morisot
And we’re back in France again, but this time featuring our first female artist, impressionist painter Berthe Morisot. As well as landscapes, still lifes and portraits, she also loved painting domestic scenes, making life at home seem full of wonder. Bring the beauty of everyday life into your own home with a Morisot inspired print.
WONDER WALL: ‘The Girl And The Cello’ is a tribute to the elegance of the impressionist era.
7. Degas
French painter Edgar Degas preferred being called a realist than an impressionist, but is known in the art world as one of the founders of impressionism. I guess you can’t always get what you want!
Degas’ favourite subject to paint was dance, with more than half of his works depicting dancers. From 1870 Degas increasingly painted ballerinas, partly because they sold well and provided him with a much needed income after his family were declared bankrupt. You too can welcome dance into your home with a homage to Degas.
LET’S DANCE: Impressionist art depicting dance and dancers adds energy to a room.
8. Sisley
British-French artist Alfred Sisley was dedicated to outdoor (or en plein air) impressionism, favouring sombre colours over brights. With such a prolific career as an artist, let’s be thankful he dropped out of studying business in London and returned to Paris to paint, despite struggling with a lifetime of poverty.
The epitome of the poor struggling artist, Sisley has made a massive impact on many a would-be impressionist landscape painter. Thank you Sisley.
GREAT OUTDOORS: An impressionist landscape painting brings a bit of the countryside home.
9. Pissaro
Camille Pissarro was both an artist and a mentor within the impressionist movement, a master of composition and colour modulations to suggest space depth.
Many of his first paintings, essentially the birth of impressionism, were used as doormats by soldiers – what a different time! Luckily, his legacy lives on.
PERCEPTION: Create a lasting impression with dramatic artwork that adds a sense of depth.
10. Manet
Like Morisot, French painter Edouard Manet was a master of turning everyday modern life into unconventional art. He not only had a revolutionary approach to form, but to subject as well.
Many of Manet’s pieces caused controversy. Perhaps today’s artists owe it to him for opening up doors to different art styles. Yesterday’s ‘scandalous’ has become today’s ‘courageous’.
WHIMSICAL: ‘The Girl And The Violin’ becomes a dreamy addition to a modern bedroom.
11. Rousseau
Henri Rousseau, considered an impressionist in the ‘naive’ manner, was originally derided by critics but revered by the likes of Picasso and Kandinsky for the exact same reason – the art of simplicity.
Drawing his inspiration from nature, he is now considered a self-taught genius. Let’s all embrace the simple style of Rousseau!
NATURAL BEAUTY: Be inspired by the simplistic beauty of the natural world in the style of Rousseau.
12. Cezanne
Last but certainly not least is French artist Paul Cézanne who formed the bridge between impressionism and post impressionism, inspiring generations of modern artists.
He considered colour, line and form inseparable, something that works wonderfully when selecting art as it can be chosen to complement your existing décor without the fuss of analysing the subject matter!
ALL A BLUR: The allure of Cezanne impressionism is alive and well in ‘Still Life With Pitcher And Fruit’.
