Impressionism vs Post-Impressionism: Difference and Comparison

Impressionism and Post-Impressionism are two artistic movements. Both movements took a drastic and dramatic change in the world of art.

The movements took place in France in the late 19th century. Impressionism and Post-Impressionism are interlinked with each other, as the Post-Impressionism movement took place as a reaction to Impressionism.

Also, there are many distinguishable characteristics of both art movements. These two artistic movements are known as the two most renowned art movements.

The artists are subjected to real-life scenes, social gatherings, or day-to-day scenes.

Key Takeaways

  1. Impressionism focuses on capturing the momentary effects of natural light, while post-impressionism focuses on art’s emotional and symbolic aspects.
  2. Impressionist paintings are characterized by loose brushstrokes and a focus on capturing the fleeting moment. In contrast, post-impressionist paintings are characterized by a more structured composition and a focus on the artist’s vision.
  3. Impressionism is considered the precursor to post-impressionism, as post-impressionist artists built on the techniques and ideas of the Impressionists.

Impressionism vs Post Impressionism

Impressionism is characterized by its emphasis on capturing the fleeting effects of light and color in nature. Impressionist artists sought to convey the sensory impressions of a moment in time. Post-Impressionism emerged in the 1880s and continued into the early 20th century. Post-Impressionist artists built upon the Impressionist style but moved beyond the purely sensory aspects of their predecessors.

Impressionism vs Post Impressionism

Impressionism is an art movement that took place against the changing urban environment. It took place in France.

The subjects of the paintings were real-life scenes, daily activities, and social gatherings of people. Impressionist paintings were drawn in a very realistic way.

Impressionism gave birth to many other art styles like Neo-Impressionism, Fauvism, and Cubism.

Post-Impressionism also took place in Frace in the later 19th century as the reaction movement of Impressionism. These paintings were mostly obtained from Impressionism.

It depicts the emotion of the subject. Post-Impressionism gave birth to modern art. Post-Impressionism paintings are painted indoors.

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonImpressionismPost Impressionism
Emergence An art movement that took place in the protest against the changing urban environment An art movement that took place as the reaction of Impressionism
Characteristics of the paintings vibrant color, harsh brushstrokes, perfect angular paintings, perfect atmosphere, and lighting, etc.Use of artificial or unnatural color, painterly brushstrokes, etc
Light and ColorImpressionists focus on light, to manipulate the artwork.Post-Impressionist focus on color.
Painting Subjects
Impressionism paintings were based upon realistic and daily scenes.
Post-Impressionism paintings depicted the emotions of the subject.
ArtistsClaude Monte, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, Édouard Manet,etc.Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Paul Signac, Georges Seurat, etc
Art PlaceImpressionism paintings were painted outside.Post-impressionism paintings were painted indoors or in a studio.
Artworks1.Woman with a Parasol by Claude Monet
2.Paris Street, Rainy day by Gustave Caillebotte
1.The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh
2. La Toilette by Henry de Toulouse-Lautree

What is Impressionism?

Impressionism refers to the art movement that took place in France against the changing urban environment.

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The artist used vibrant and bright colors to showcase their paintings with harsh and uneven brushstrokes.

The paintings were painted in such a way that the lighting of the atmosphere complemented it in all aspects. It was drawn at such an angle that it looked good from every angle.

The Impressionist painters gave more importance to the lighting of the paintings and painted the paintings in such a way that it manipulated the artwork.

The Impressionist artist painted different daily life scenes in a realistic way that almost looks real.

It depicted every detail of that scene, the color combination, the lighting, the angles, and everything that compliments each other.

Since the Impressionists realistically painted the real-life scene, the artist used to go out and paint the paintings so that every detail could be captured.

Impressionism artists included Claude Monte, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, Édouard Monet, etc.

Some famous Impressionism artworks include Woman with a Parasol by Claude Monet, Paris Street, and Rainy Day by Gustave Caillebotte.

impressionism

What is Post-Impressionism?

Post-Impressionism refers to the art movement that took place as a reaction to Impressionism.

Impressionism and Post-Impressionism are interlinked with each other, and Post-Impressionist paintings were derived from Impressionism.

The Post-Impressionist artist used light colors in their paintings. The Post-Impressionist painters used light artificial colors, painterly brushstrokes.

Post-Impressionism also took place in Frace in the later 19th century as the reaction movement of Impressionism.

It depicts the emotion of the subjects, every detail of the subject’s emotion is given value. Post-Impressionism gave birth to modern art, and it gradually changed the style of art.

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The Post-Impressionist painters painted indoors. The painters gave more importance to the colors, emotions of the subjects. The artist used light colors.

Post- Impressionism artists included Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Paul Signac, etc.

Post-Impressionism artworks included The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, and La Toilette by Henry de Toulouse-Lautrec.

post impressionism

Main Differences Between Impressionism and Post-Impressionism

  1. The Impressionism movement took place against the changing urban movement. On the other hand, the Post-Impressionism movement took place as the reaction movement of Impressionism.
  2. The Impressionist painter used vibrant color, harsh brushstrokes, perfect angular paintings, perfect atmosphere, light, etc. On the other hand, the Post-Impressionist painters used light artificial colors, painterly brushstrokes.
  3. The Impressionist artist gives more importance to the light so that the artist can manipulate the artwork. On the other hand, the Post-Impressionist artist gives more importance to the colors.
  4. Impressionism painting’s subjects included realistic and daily scenes. On the other hand, the subject of Post-Impressionist paintings included the emotions of the subjects.
  5. The Impressionist painter painted the paintings outside. On the other hand, the Post-Impressionist painters painted indoors.
  6. Impressionism artists included Claude Monte, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, Édouard Monet, etc. On the other hand, Post- Impressionism artists included Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Paul Signac, etc.
  7. Impressionism artworks include Woman with a Parasol by Claude Monet, Paris Street, and Rainy Day by Gustave Caillebotte. On the other hand, Post-Impressionism artworks included The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh and La Toilette by Henry de Toulouse-Lautrec.
Difference Between Impressionism and Post Impressionism
References
  1. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=bbIwDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=impression+vs+post+impressionism&ots=Hmu17ei-pe&sig=GUlp5GIQ8esqN075fwXdM0T6KfA
  2. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26653439

Last Updated : 31 July, 2023

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16 thoughts on “Impressionism vs Post-Impressionism: Difference and Comparison”

  1. The transition from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism demonstrates the innovative spirit of artists and the continuing evolution of artistic forms during the late 19th century.

    Reply
  2. The in-depth comparison of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism highlights the evolution and progression of artistic styles, shedding light on the intricacies of each movement.

    Reply
  3. The transition from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism is fascinating and showcases the evolution of artistic expression. The shift from capturing fleeting moments to depicting the artist’s emotions is a testament to the development of these movements.

    Reply
    • The emergence of art movements as a reaction to changing environments and previous movements adds depth to the context of these artistic expressions.

      Reply
    • The comparison table provides a clear overview of the distinctive features of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, allowing for a deeper understanding of both movements.

      Reply
  4. The notable artists associated with Impressionism and Post-Impressionism have left a lasting legacy, shaping the course of art history and inspiring future generations of artists.

    Reply
  5. The detailed explanation of the characteristics and differences between Impressionism and Post-Impressionism offers valuable insights into the innovative approaches of artists during that period.

    Reply
    • The emphasis on capturing light and color in Impressionism, as well as the focus on the emotional and symbolic aspects in Post-Impressionism, showcases the diverse artistic expressions of the time.

      Reply
  6. The distinct artistic styles of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism resonate with the profound impact these movements had on the representation of real-life scenes and emotional expressions.

    Reply
  7. The progression from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism reflects the dynamic nature of art and the exploration of diverse techniques and themes by artists of that era.

    Reply
    • The impact and influence of both Impressionism and Post-Impressionism continue to shape contemporary art, underscoring the enduring significance of these art movements.

      Reply
  8. This article provides a comprehensive overview of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of these influential art movements.

    Reply
  9. The influence of Impressionism and the subsequent reaction in the form of Post-Impressionism signifies a pivotal period in art history, marking the transition from capturing moments to interpreting emotions.

    Reply
  10. Both Impressionism and Post-Impressionism are revolutionary art movements that have made a significant impact on the art world. The emphasis on light and color in Impressionism is truly remarkable and post-impressionism’s focus on the artist’s vision adds a new dimension to the movement.

    Reply
    • The distinct characteristics of both art movements set them apart and highlight the evolution and innovation in art during the late 19th century.

      Reply
    • I agree that they both have a profound impact on art history. The transition from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism marked a significant shift in how artists approached their work.

      Reply

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