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Year 7 Art - Modernism: Impressionism

Guide to provide resources supporting year 7 unit on Modernism and Modernist Artists

What is Impressionism?

Eugène Boudin

Biographies of Eugène Boudin:

        Eugène Boudin - Britannica

        Eugène Boudin - Google Arts and Culture

On the Beach, Sunset (1865)

See Boudin's works in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Click on each artwork to discover more about it.

Edgar Degas

Biographies of Edgar Degas:

   Edgar Degas - Britannica Schools

   Edgar Degas - Google Arts and Culture

   Edgar Degas (1834-1917): Painting and Drawing - Metropolitan Museum of Art

   Edgar Degas – Exploring the Life and Art of this French Painter - Art in Context  

Edgar Degas: French Painter, Sculptor, and Printmaker (Overview and Artworks) - The Art Story

      An overview of the artist and his accomplishments. This page also contains links to a full biography, important artworks, the progression of his art, and additional resources.

The Ballet Class (1871-74)

Edgar Degas is the visual artist most closely associated with the ballet, depicting dancers in both paintings and sculpture. The following resources focus on Degas' artworks and inspirations:

The Life and Art of Edgar Degas

Edgar Degas (1813-1917): Bronze Sculpture

Degas' Dancers: How Ballerinas Inspired the Iconic Impressionist Artist

The Ballet (includes links to specific artworks)

Conserving Degas

      In this short video (5 minutes) The Met's costume conservator Glenn Peterson discusses the history of Degas's famous sculpture The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer and the decisions made in the conservation of its tutu.

“The Dance Class” Edgar Degas – Analyzing the “Dance Class” Painting 

“Place de la Concorde” by Edgar Degas – An Artwork Analysis

See Degas's works in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Click on each artwork to discover more about it.

Édouard Manet

Biographies of Édouard Manet:

        Édouard Manet - Britannica Schools

        Édouard Manet - Britannica (extended biography)

        Édouard Manet - Google Arts and Culture

        Édouard Manet (1832-1883) - Metropolitan Museum of Art

Who Was Édouard Manet? Get to Know the Legendary Artist [Infographic]

      Interesting facts and important dates in the Manet's life in a quick and easy-to-understand infographic.

Édouard Manet: French Draftsman and Painter (Overview and Artworks) - The Art Story

      An overview of the artist and his accomplishments. This page also includes links to a full biography, his artistic legacy, important artworks, and additional resources, including websites, articles, and video-clips.

The Monet Family in Their Garden at Argenteuil (1874)

The following articles examine some of Manet's most famous artworks, and discuss some of them in greater detail.

Édouard Manet is Considered the Father of Modernism. Here Are His Most Famous Works 

Édouard Manet – The Godfather of Modernism - Art in Context

Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe – Looking at Manet’s “Luncheon on the Grass”

The Significance of Manet's Large-Scale Masterpiece 'The Luncheon on The Grass' 

King Charles Spaniel (c. 1866) - Art in Context [Famous Dog Paintings]

“A Bar at the Folies-Bergère” by Édouard Manet – A Look

Exploring the Meaning Behind Édouard Manet's Painting 'A Bar at the Folies-Bergère' 

“The Absinthe Drinker” by Édouard Manet – Social Isolation in Art

See Manet's works in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Click on each artwork to discover more about it.

Claude Monet

Biographies of Claude Monet:

   Claude Monet - Britannica

   Claude Monet - Google Arts and Culture

   Claude Monet (1840-1926) - Metropolitan Museum of Art

  Monet's Magical Nuances: How the Impressionist Became a Worldwide Star

  Claude Monet – The Impetus for Impressionism - Art in Context

Claude Monet: French Painter (Overview and Artworks) - The Art Story

      An overview of the artist and his accomplishments. This page also includes links to a full biography, his artistic legacy, important artworks, and additional resources, including websites, articles, videos, and more. The three suggested websites all provide a wealth of information about Monet (Claude Monet FoundationGiverny tourism), and his artworks.

Water Lilies (1919)

Claud Monet was considered the leader of Impressionism as an artistic movement. The following resources give an overview of some of Monet's more well-known works. Check out the 'More of Monet' information box to investigate Monet's inspirations, the evolution of his painting style, and his artworks in more detail. 

Claude Monet Paintings – A Look at 15 of Monet’s Greatest Works

Famous Monet Paintings – 15 Artworks That Shaped Impressionism

Seascape Paintings by Claude Monet – 11 Maritime Masterpieces 

The Most Famous Claude Monet Paintings Everybody Adores

10+ Awe-Inspiring Impressionist Masterpieces Painted by Claude Monet

See Monet's works in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Click on each artwork to discover more about it.

Auguste Renoir (Pierre-Auguste Renoir)

Biographies of Auguste Renoir:

   Pierre-Auguste Renoir - Britannica Schools

   Pierre-Auguste Renoir - Britannica (extended biography, including his later rejection of impressionistic styles)

   Pierre-Auguste Renoir - Google Arts and Culture

   Auguste Renoir (1841 - 1919) - Metropolitan Museum of Art

   How Renoir Became a Leading Impressionist and Created an Enduring Style of his Own - ARTnews

   Pierre-Auguste Renoir – Artwork and Bio of the French Painter - Artlex

   Pierre-Auguste Renoir: French Draftsman and Painter (Overview and Artworks) - The Art Story

An overview of the artist and his accomplishments. This page also includes links to a full biography, his artistic legacy, important artworks, and additional resources, including websites, articles, video-clips, and more.

The Skiff (1875)

The following resources look at some of Renoir's most famous paintings.

5 of Renoir's Most Famous Paintings That Any Impressionism Lover Should Know

Spring Bouquet (1866) - Art in Context [Famous Spring Paintings]

La Grenouillère (1869) - Art in Context [Famous Tree Paintings]

Dance at Le moulin de la Galette (1876) - Art in Context [Famous French Painters]

The Story Behind Renoir's 'Bal du moulin de la Galette'

“A Girl with a Watering Can” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir – An Analysis

“The Umbrellas” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir – A Visual Analysis

“Two Sisters (On the Terrace)” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir – A Look

The Story Behind Renoir's Impressionist Masterpiece 'Luncheon of the Boating Party'

“Dance at Bougival” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir – A Jovial Artwork

“Dance in the Country” by Pierre-August Renoir – In-Depth Analysis

See Renoir's works in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Click on each artwork to discover more about it.

Alfred Sisley

Biographies of Alfred Sisley:

   Alfred Sisley - Britannica Schools

   Alfred Sisley - Google Arts and Culture

   Alfred Sisley(French, –1899) - Artnet

   Alfred Sisley (1839 – 1899) - Art in Context [Impressionist Painters]

   Alfred Sisley: British Painter (Overview and Artworks) - The Art Story

An overview of the artist and his accomplishments. This page also includes links to a full biography, his artistic legacy, important artworks, and additional resources.

Bridge at Villeneuve-la-Garenne (1872)

Alfred Sisley primarily painted landscapes and was a strong proponent for painting 'en plein air' (to learn more about this method, check out the separate information box). The following resources take a closer look at some of Sisley's works.

Top 10 Alfred Sisley Paintings

Alfred Sisley's Most Famous Paintings 

Alfred Sisley At Musée d'Orsay: His Five Best Works

Fog, Voisins (1874) - Art in Context [Impressionist Paintings]

The Small Meadows in Spring (1881) - Art in Context [Famous Spring Paintings]

See Sisley's works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Artnet. Click on each artwork to discover more about it

Books in the Stephens Library

Check the non-fiction section at 759 for resources about painters and their artworks.

en plein air

Claude Monet Painting in His Garden at Argenteuil (1873)

The term 'en plein air' refers to landscape paintings done in the 'open air' (outside) rather than in a studio. This popularity of this open air painting style increased with the introduction of Impressionism.

Art and Fashion

The Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity presented a revealing look at the role of fashion in the works of the Impressionists and other artists of the time. It showcased figure paintings with period costumes, accessories, photographs and prints to highlight the relationship between fashion and art. This page gives an overview of the exhibition and includes background information, selected highlights and contents of each gallery.