Impressionism and the Palace of Versailles: Art and History
Impressionism: A 19th Century Artistic Revolution
In the 19th century, there was a radical change in art. It went from the artist who followed the rules (the Academy) to the one that broke them. The artists who transformed art were the rejected ones of the official Salons.
Gustave Courbet (1819-1877)
His paintings were rejected from the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1855. He decided to open a “Pavillon du Realisme” to show his works. His style represents reality but without the romantic emotion or the neoclassical rules.
Édouard Manet (1832-1883)
He used elements from other periods of art history but adapted them to his personal point of view. In 1863, his works were shown in the “Salon des Refusés”.
Characteristics of Impressionism
- Against the academic art of official salons.
- Realistic trend: They defended outdoor painting (en plein air).
- The subject of the picture is not important.
- They followed the pictorial technique initiated by Manet.
- They painted things as they saw them, and we do not know what they are.
- They wanted to represent the visual sensation that reality produces.
- The painting wants to reach where photography does not come.
Claude Monet (1840-1926)
One of the most important Impressionist painters. He painted outdoors (on a boat from the Seine). Quick brush strokes to paint the rapid changes of light gave the feeling of an unfinished painting. This didn’t please everyone and provoked criticism. He also painted subjects of little importance (the theme of the paintings wasn’t important, but the technique).
Paul Gauguin (1848-1903)
A Post-Impressionist painter (Symbolist movement). Symbolic painting: translate ideas with analogies. From 1886: Pont-Aven (Bretagne). His painting was influenced by Japanese prints and “primitive art”. He used flat colors (the figures have neither volume nor depth). In 1891, he traveled to Tahiti: the exotic theme would make him famous.
Van Gogh (1853-1890)
He lived in Arles (he left Paris disillusioned by the superficial artist environment). He had a very personal style. Gauguin visited him and influenced his pictorial style. He was influenced by Japanese prints, Seurat, and the Impressionists. Expressionists (the next generation) would vindicate Van Gogh (his passion in the way of painting).
Paul Cézanne (1839-1906)
His art would influence the next generations (20th century). He mixed strong structure with direct observation started by the Impressionists. He tried to be “primitive”: to look at reality without cultural prejudices, starting from zero.
The Palace of Versailles
1623: Louis XIII built a hunting lodge in the middle of the forest.
That building evolved into a great palace.
1660s: The two wings were built, and a parade ground was created.
1668: Louis XIV (the Sun King) moved the court from Paris to Versailles.
The Palace no longer looked towards the parade ground but to the gardens.
20,000 people lived in the palace (courtiers, service).
1789: The French Revolution, at first led by women.
A Touristic Must
Louis XVI was the last king who resided in Versailles.
During the French Revolution, it was attacked and then abandoned.
In the middle of the 19th century, the doors reopened as a museum.
It is currently one of the most visited sites in France.
More than 7 million visitors per year, except in 2015, 5.9 million due to the terrorist attacks.
Disneyfication Has Come to Versailles
Commercial transformation of urban spaces, tourist places, and cultural heritage sites to resemble Disney Parks.
Key points of Disneyfication:
- Consumerism
- Merchandising
- Performative labor (not only providing a service but also entertaining).