Essential Impressionists

Impressionism emerged in France in the latter half of the nineteenth century as a revolutionary new force in painting. The artists who adopted this style were the first to take up their equipment and leave the confines of their studios, to paint what they saw around them outside in the open air. As a result of this, they were able to paint actually as they saw a scene, not as they saw it in their minds' eye. Cunningham looks in detail at all aspects of the work of the Impressionist movement, with detailed commentary on 120 of their works and additional imagery to highlight comparisons and contrasts in their style. Some of these works are considered their most important pieces; others may be less well-known but they all play an important role in the artistic and philosophical development of this diverse group of artists