This table shows the four Characteristics of Impressionism.
It is set up in a before/after format.
It is a summary of what you saw in the slide show and can be used as a reference.
| Before Impressionism | After Impressionism |
| The subject matter in paintings consisted of
portraits of rich or famous people. religious themes. historical themes |
The subject matter in paintings were
everyday people doing everyday activities or landscapes. |
| The style in paintings was realism. Artists painted to make the subject look like a photograph with careful attention to detail and anatomy | The style was called Impressionism because the artist painted their impression of the subject with large brushstrokes and lots of color and reflections. The painting did not have to look exactly like a photograph. |
| Artists painted to make a living. Because they were painting on commission, they painted exactly what the buyer wanted to see. Artists were trained to paint as realistically as possible. | Artists painted for enjoyment, not to make a living. Artists painted whatever they wanted to, however they wanted to paint it. Impressionism made art accessible to everyday people. |
| The lighting in portraits was mostly indoors. Colors were subdued shades. There were lots of browns and yellows. | Artists went outside and captured lighting conditions, reflections, weather and leisure time activities. They used small brushstrokes of color next to each other that were blended by the viewer's eye. |