What Is Post-Impressionism in Art History?

Art|Art History

Post-Impressionism is an art movement that developed in the late 19th century to challenge the naturalistic approach of Impressionism. The movement was pioneered by a group of French painters, including Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, and Georges Seurat.

Post-Impressionists rejected the idea of capturing a single moment in time as the Impressionists did. Instead, they sought to convey a deeper emotional response or intellectual impression through their artwork.

As such, Post-Impressionist paintings often feature bold colors and brushstrokes and exaggerated proportions that create a sense of distortion. This style was particularly evident in Cézanne’s landscapes and Seurat’s pointillist technique.

Post-Impressionists also rejected the traditional subject matter of Impressionism, which often featured scenes from everyday life. Instead, they sought to explore more introspective topics such as religion, mythology, and the human psyche. Such themes were particularly evident in van Gogh’s works which often featured people from his own life as well as religious figures.

The influence of Post-Impressionism

Post-Impressionism had a major influence on 20th century art movements such as Cubism and Expressionism. It also provided inspiration for modern art forms such as abstract expressionism and Pop Art. The techniques pioneered by Post-Impressionist painters are still widely used today by contemporary artists who seek to capture emotion and atmosphere through their work.

Conclusion:
Post-Impressionism was an important art movement that developed in reaction to Impressionism in late 19th century France. It was characterized by bold colors and brushstrokes and exaggerated proportions that created a sense of distortion. Post-Impessionists also rejected traditional subject matter for more introspective topics such as religion, mythology, and the human psyche which had an influence on many later 20th century movements such as Cubism and Expressionism as well as modern forms like abstract expressionism and Pop Art.