Definition

1. Noun:
   • An art movement: A style of painting that originated in France in the late 19th century, characterized by the use of small, thin, visible brushstrokes, an emphasis on the accurate depiction of light and its changing qualities, and the inclusion of movement as a crucial element of human perception and experience.
   • A style in other arts: By extension, a style in music, literature, or other arts that seeks to capture the immediate sensory impressions or feelings evoked by a subject, rather than a detailed, realistic representation.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Claude Monet is considered a founder of Impressionism.
  • The museum's new exhibition focuses on the development of French Impressionism.
  • Her poetry shows a strong influence of literary impressionism, focusing on fleeting moments and sensory details.

Advanced Usage

• "to be an example of impressionism": to embody the characteristics of the Impressionist movement.
  • This painting, with its loose brushwork and focus on light, is a prime example of impressionism.
• "the impressionism of": used to describe the Impressionist style evident in a particular artist's work or a period.
  • The lecture analyzed the impressionism of Camille Pissarro's early landscapes.

Variants and Related Words

• Impressionist (noun): An artist, composer, or writer who practices or adheres to Impressionism.
  • Renoir was a leading Impressionist.
• Impressionist (adjective): Of or relating to Impressionism.
  • The gallery owns several impressionist paintings.
• Impressionistic (adjective): Based on subjective impressions, feelings, or reactions rather than on objective analysis or detailed fact; reminiscent of the style of Impressionism.
  • She gave an impressionistic account of the event, focusing on the mood and atmosphere.

Synonyms

• Plein air painting (specifically for the practice of painting outdoors to capture light, closely associated with Impressionism).
• Luminism (shares an emphasis on light, though it is a distinct movement).

Related Phrases

• "play of light": A phrase often used in descriptions of Impressionist works to describe the artistic focus on the effects and interaction of light.
  • The artist masterfully captured the play of light on the water.

Related Idioms

(Note: As a specific artistic term, "impressionism" itself is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions. However, the related adjective "impressionistic" can be used figuratively.) - "In an impressionistic style/manner": Describing a non-literal, evocative approach that suggests rather than defines. - The report was written in an impressionistic manner, full of anecdotes and personal reflections.

Noun

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