Art History Book: Chapter 5 The Post-Impressionist Period
POST IMPRESSIONISM
By the turn of the century, Impressionism had
run its course, (Monet, Renoir, Degas etc. continued
to work in the style but were exploring new aspects).
Artists influenced by Impressionism but who experimented with colour theory and different techniques
and approaches to painting became known as the
Post Impressionists. They work at thesame time as
the Impressionists and once used Impressionist techniques but no longer wanted to describe the instantaneous glimpse of nature that was the main focus of
Impressionism. Two directions began to emerge: a
group of artist concerned about Form/Design (ie.
Cezanne and Seurat); and a group that were more
concerned about Emotion and Expression (ie. Van
Gogh and Gauguin), or artists that wanted to use colour to better express themselves through painting.
“Wheat Field and Cypress Trees”. 1889. Vincent van Gogh.
oil on canvas. 281/2" x 36". The National Gallery, London.
SOURCE OF INFLUENCE
CHARACTERISTICS
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Course Code: AVI 3M
Art History Book: Chapter 5 The Post-Impressionist Period
Course Code: AVI 3M
POST IMPRESSIOISM IN PAINTING
PAUL CEZANNE (1839-1906)
Cezanne often altered linear
perspective on purpose to
improve the composition
Cezanne’s work employed a
distinctive patchy brushwork
like small planes of colour
which overlapped each other
“Still Life with Apples”. 1879-82. Paul Cezanne. oil on canvas.
17 1/8" x 21 3/4". Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen.
YOUR NOTES ON CEZANNE
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Art History Book: Chapter 5 The Post-Impressionist Period
Course Code: AVI 3M
GEORGES SEURAT (1859-1891)
small dots of pure colour fill
the canvas like the dots on a
monitor or TV screen
each aspect of the composition
was meticulously planned out
in hundreds of sketches
“Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande
Jatte”. 1884-86. George Seurat. oil on canvas. 6' 9
3/4" x 10' 1 1/4". The Art Institute of Chicago.
YOUR NOTES ON SEURAT
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Art History Book: Chapter 5 The Post-Impressionist Period
Course Code: AVI 3M
PAUL GAUGUIN (1848-1903)
Gauguin employed colour for
symbolic meaning
during this period of
Gauguin’s work flat areas
of colour were outlined with
dark edges like stained glass
“The Vision After the Sermon, Jacob Wrestling with
the Angel”. 1888. Paul Gauguin. oil on canvas. National
Museum of Scotland.
YOUR NOTES ON GAUGUIN
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Art History Book: Chapter 5 The Post-Impressionist Period
Course Code: AVI 3M
HENRI de TOULOUSE LAUTREC (1864-1901)
Lautrec’s work was a
document of the night life
of Paris and included many
portraits of the people he
knew, (and himself)
Lautrec also experimented
with with daring compositions
like Degas
“At the Moulin Rouge”. 1892. Henri de ToulouseLautrec. oil on canvas. 48 3/4" x 55 1/4". The Art Institute
of Chicago.
YOUR NOTES ON LAUTREC
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Art History Book: Chapter 5 The Post-Impressionist Period
VINCENT van GOGH (1853-1890)
Course Code: AVI 3M
van Gogh’s style mature style
included a distinctive swirling
brushstoke and brilliant
colours applied thickly to the
canvas
when van Gogh was able
to paint he was prolific and
painted any subject from a
starry night sky to a pair of
old shoes
“Starry Night”.1889. Vincent van Gogh. oil on canvas. 28
3/4" x 36 1/4". The Museum of Modern Art, New York.
YOUR NOTES ON VAN GOGH
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Art History Book: Chapter 5 The Post-Impressionist Period
Course Code: AVI 3M
TERMS TO KNOW
Index
A
M
Absinthe 34
aerial perspective 31
Arles 33
Marquesas 33
Martinique 33
Moulin Rouge 34
B
P
Brittany 33
D
Pissaro 33
Pissarro 31
pointillism 32
Degas 34
T
I
Tahiti 33
Impressionism 30
L
linear perspective 31
KEY CONCEPTS
What aspects of Ipressionism did the Post Impressionists keep and what aspects changed?
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