Monet & Cézanne: Impressionism to Neo-Impressionism
Impression, Sunrise
Author: Oscar Claude Monet
Date: 1872
Museum: Museum of Paris Marmottan
Features: 47 x 64 cm
Material: Oil on canvas
Style: Impressionism
In 19th-century France, the official channel for painters was the Paris Motor Show, linked to the School of Fine Arts. A prestigious jury selected the submitted works. The 1863 scandal, sparked by Manet’s Breakfast on the Grass, led to the creation of the Salon des Refusés, which gained popularity among young artists seeking to exhibit modern works.
Painters gathered at Café Guerbois, led by Manet, decided to create an independent exhibition forum. This resulted in the First Exhibition of the Corporation of Painters, Sculptors, and Engravers, held from April 15 to May 15 in photographer Nadar’s rooms. 3,500 visitors attended, many mocking the modern-looking paintings.
Monet exhibited nine paintings, including Impression, Sunrise, which gave the group its name. Critic Louis Leroy used the term “Impressionists” dismissively, but the artists adopted it.
Impression, Sunrise depicts Le Havre’s port at dawn, with the sun struggling through the mist, creating orange reflections in the sea and sky. The atmospheric effect dominates, with forms nearly dissolving. Quick, impasto brushstrokes create a captivating image.
Rouen Cathedral in the Sun
Author: Oscar Claude Monet
Date: 1894
Museum: Orsay Museum
Features: 107 x 73 cm
Material: Oil on canvas
Style: Impressionism
Monet’s Rouen Cathedral series reinforces his earlier theories about light’s effect on objects. The facade in full sun blurs contours, with arches and decorations absorbed by light and shadow. Mauve shades dominate the shadows. The rapid brushwork emphasizes immediacy.
The Card Players
Author: Paul Cézanne
Date: 1890-95
Museum: Musée d’Orsay
Features: 47 x 57 cm
Material: Oil on canvas
Style: Neo-Impressionism
In the 1890s, Cézanne painted a series on The Card Players, featuring farmers and his gardener, Vallier. Inspired by Le Nain and Chardin, he depicted two men at a table, concentrating on their game. The viewer is placed close to the scene, observing the tavern setting.
Color is central, with the man in yellow and his partner in purple hues. The background features red tones. Fluid brushstrokes create facets, hinting at Cubism. Unlike Impressionism, Cézanne emphasizes volume and shape through color, aiming for a durable art form.