Emerging in 19th-century France, Impressionist art embraced loose brushwork and plein-air painting to respond to the movement of daily life. Although the pioneers of the Impressionist movement — Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Paul Cézanne, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir — are now household names, their work was a radical break with an art scene led and shaped by academic traditions for around two centuries. These academies had oversight of a curriculum that emphasized formal drawing, painting and sculpting techniques and historical themes.
The French Impressionists were influenced by a group of artists known as the Barbizon School, who painted what they witnessed in nature. The rejection of pieces by these artists and the later Impressionists from the salons culminated in a watershed 1874 exhibition in Paris that was staged outside of the juried systems. After a work of Monet’s was derided by a critic as an unfinished “impression,” the term was taken as a celebration of their shared interest in capturing fleeting moments as subject matter, whether the shifting weather on rural landscapes or the frenzy of an urban crowd. Rather than the exacting realism of the academic tradition, Impressionist paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings represented how an artist saw a world in motion.
Many Impressionist painters were inspired by the perspectives in imported Japanese prints alongside these shifts in European painting — Édouard Manet drew on ukiyo-e woodblock prints and depicted Japanese design in his Portrait of Émile Zola, for example. American artists such as Mary Cassatt and William Merritt Chase, who studied abroad, were impacted by the work of the French artists, and by the late 19th century American Impressionism had its own distinct aesthetics with painters responding to the rapid modernization of cities through quickly created works that were vivid with color and light.
Find a collection of authentic Impressionist art on 1stDibs.
Above the Beach, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Janet Dyer captures the fleeting beauty of the sky in this coastal scene. Soft clouds drift above the horizon, golden sunset light receding in the distan...
Acrylic
Autumn Glow at Art Institute of Chicago, Oil Painting
By Yangzi Xu
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Pedestrians stroll through the streets of downtown Chicago, passing the iconic lion statues at the Art Institute of Chicago. Autumn hues fill the scene as tal...
Oil
Waiting for Rain, Original Painting
By Joanie Ford
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Joanie Ford paints a tranquil landscape where the vibrant colors of earth and sky intertwine. The winding path, bordered by delicate wildflowers, guides ...
Pastel
$16,550
"Santa Maria Novella" M.Dalessio, Oil Painting, Realist Landscape, Tuscany, 2007
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting by American plein-air painter, and award winning portrait painter Marc Dalessio. A depiction of the rolling hills of Tuscany. Cultivated nature lives on the left wit...
Oil, Panel, Wood Panel
Cocktail Hour Preparations, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
When artist Onelio Marrero attended a wedding reception, he observed the preparations unfolding in bright sunlight beneath a portico. He captured the quiet acti...
Oil
Where the Fire Is Safe, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Snowstorms in New Jersey inspired artist Onelio Marrero to paint this winter landscape and convey a scene of solitude. A man stands on a nearly frozen river as ...
Oil
Dreamland With Bunny_, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A little girl sleeps with her arms wrapped around a plush bunny. She wears a white nightgown, which contrasts with the reddish tones in the background and foreg...
Oil
Cafes in Portugal, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
While walking the Camino de Santiago, artist Jonelle Summerfield arrived in Vila Nova de Cerveira and paused, unsure which direction to take. Though tired from ...
Oil
Shopping in Cordoba, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Two young ladies shop in the narrow, sun-drenched streets of Cordoba, Spain. Hanging bags and garments add life and texture to the rustic building. Loose brushw...
Oil
Desert Glow, Original Painting
By Joanie Ford
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Joanie Fords captures the beauty of Tucson, Arizona in this pastel artwork. Soft, glowing light filters through the terrain, contrasting the lush green c...
Pastel
Barn and Silo II, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Shela Goodman presents an impressionist outlook of a barn and silo. The placement of the yellow flowers in the foreground aptly embodies the carefree s...
Oil
That Dreams May Come III, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A young girl wearing a tutu sits in front of a vanity. Artist C M Cooper based this piece on the innocence of childhood, using an eight-year-old ballet student ...
Oil
Cloudless Thoughts, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A woman lies quietly, lost in thought, as the viewer is left to imagine the world within her mind. Layers of rich oil paint build a soft, luminous surface, wher...
Oil
On the Camino de Santiago, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A narrow path offers views of the expansive land along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. The sun bathes the landscape in warm light. Trees and bushes line the ed...
Oil
Afternoon Blues, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A blonde woman wearing a teal satin blouse leans on her hand as she drifts into a mid-afternoon sleep. Flowers surround her, signaling the merging of fantasy wi...
Oil
No Looking Back, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
An impressionist painting captures the back view of a young lady dressed in a red silk nightgown. She stares at her reflection in the mirror, lost in thought. S...
Oil
Frozen Amber, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Dramatic colors refract through frozen grass and cattails just minutes before sunset. The snow takes on a warm, amber glow as the light settles across the sur...
Oil
Field of Sunflowers, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Karen d'Angeac Mihm paints vibrant sunflower fields, often inspired by Provence, but this time, she found inspiration close to home in Wisconsin. A stu...
Oil
Here to Forever, Original Painting
By Nava Lundy
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A soft, layered floral painting features muted greens, blush tones, and quiet bursts of red. The petals drift in and out of focus, giving it the feeling of a me...
Acrylic
Quiet Harbor, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original Oil painting by Ukrainian artist Evgeny Chernyakovsky "Quiet Harbor" 80.0 X 70.0 CM / 31.4 X 27.5 IN HIGH QUALITY oil on canvas Signed on the front and back Dated 2...
Oil
Blue Ridge Mountains Fall Colors, Oil Painting
By Doug Cosbie
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A weathered log farmhouse stands near the start of the Blue Ridge Trail, which stretches from southern Pennsylvania to Georgia. Autumn foliage surrounds the str...
Oil
Yellow Daisies in Blue with Cherry, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
By Karen Daigle
Located in Yardley, PA
Painted alla prima or wet in wet and finished in one sitting. I believe in only using quality materials and varnish all my paintings for protection. This is painted on a 3/4â€
Oil
Take a Break Too, Oil Painting
By David Thelen
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Set against the sleek lines of a modern cafe, this piece captures the quiet humanity behind the counter. The barista—mid-sip or lost in thought—becomes a fi...
Oil
Sunday Morning. Street Cafe in Boulder, Colorado, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Vibrant activity fills the scene as people enjoy a sunny day at an outdoor café on Pearl Street. On the left, a couple is engrossed in conversation and savor...
Oil
Tranquil Feeders, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero observes natural habitats whenever he goes out. In this painting, he focuses on the ripples and reflections of the water, capturing the fl...
Oil
Sun on River, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A calm river in Belgium reflects the soft light of a low, glowing sun. Dark silhouettes of trees line the far bank, their forms loosely defined against the mute...
Acrylic
The Hunger, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A laptop screen glows in a dark setting, displaying a painted scene from The Hunger, the 1983 vampire film starring Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie. Two figur...
Oil
M3GAN, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A laptop screen displays a scene from M3GAN, a 2023 movie about an evil doll. A row of plush toys lines the frame, with a central doll staring forward, its pale...
Oil
Summer's Blaze, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Fierce orange and red flowers rise against a smoldering blue sky, with loose brushstrokes alive with urgency. The poppies flare up, wild and restless, as if the...
Acrylic
Snowy Cherry Blossoms at Night, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A cherry blossom rises in a chilly, snow-covered landscape. Bold, rhythmic brushstrokes add texture to the violet foliage. Predominantly blue tones suggest a st...
Acrylic
Home from the Office, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A woman sits on a chair on her patio, enjoying a quiet moment of rest. On the table in front of her, a pitcher and glass of juice, oranges, and an open book a...
Oil
Squint, Oil Painting
By Aruna Rao
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Light shimmers across the water as the sun goes down. A sailboat fades in the distance, while the rocks in the foreground frame the scene. The soft breeze, glow...
Oil
Four Boats, Misty Morning, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The impressionist pastel artwork captures sailboats and dinghies moored along calm water in Cape Cod on a grey day. Tall sea grass frames the shoreline. Artist ...
Pastel
Dune Shadow, Last Glow, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The pastel artwork depicts fluffy cumulus clouds floating majestically in the waning rays before dusk. A distant cloud bank hovers near the horizon, while the f...
Pastel
Cloud Shadow, Fall Grasses, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A massive pink cloud casts a clear shadow across the sea, endowing it with weight and an aura of distinction. The lone cottage sits nestled among sea grasses, t...
Pastel
Boat Mooring, Town Landing, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The pastel artwork captures a small motorboat and a mooring buoy floating on calm blue water. A tree-lined path leads the eye toward a distant cottage. Artist J...
Pastel
Winter Conifers Above the Cove, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The pastel artwork captures the mysterious beauty of Cape Cod in winter, when chilly winds challenge dune-top conifers and the skies turn even less predictable....
Pastel
Sunset at Meetinghouse Road Marsh, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Painted on sanded paper, the pastel artwork depicts a shoreline cove at sunset. Dark green conifers frame a rare orange deciduous tree that catches the late day...
Pastel
Sunrise, Framed by Seagrass, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The pastel artwork depicts the early-morning light on the bay, saturating the colors in this shoreline scene. Starting on site and refined later in the studio, ...
Pastel
Boat House, Tonset Beach, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The pastel artwork depicts a simple boathouse bathed in the warm light of a summer morning. Large boulders cast bold shadows across the shoreline. A pronounced ...
Pastel
Just Lovely, Oil Painting
By Karen Barton
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The impressionist floral painting depicts colorful wildflowers rising above lush green leaves. The pale blue sky adds a comforting charm to the scene. Thick pal...
Oil
The Yellow Dress, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero frequently visits the beaches in New Jersey and loves to observe the people who walk along the shoreline. This impressionist painting feat...
Oil
Garden Glow, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The impressionist still life painting depicts a turquoise chair holding a terracotta pot with orange nasturtiums and pansies. Dappled sunlight falls across the ...
Oil
Borrowed Moonlight, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A white dog wanders around a grassy field at night. The quiet evening unfolds beneath the moon as a familiar path becomes a place of reflection. Soft light and ...
Acrylic
Paradise Farm, Original Painting
By Judy Mudd
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Rustic, weathered barns and outbuildings dot a pastoral farm in this impressionist watercolor painting. Cows wander in the foreground while additional farmhouse...
Watercolor
Along the beach, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
This painting captures a serene and tender moment of a woman walking her dog along a sunlit beach. The artist uses a soft, impressionistic style with visible brushstrokes and a warm ...
Oil
In Chemistry Lab
Located in Zofingen, AG
Painted from life, In Chemistry Lab is a still life that explores the quiet poetry of scientific objects. Glass bottles, ceramic vessels, and laboratory containers are arranged with...
Canvas, Oil
Nearly there, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Nearly there, oil on canvas 25x30x2 cm. Oil impasto and brush. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: R...
Oil
A View from the Makoro, Oil Painting
By Joanie Ford
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Soft hues of green and brown blend together in a serene wetland scene. Lilies float gently on the calm river, while clusters of bushes and grasses thrive alon...
Oil
Bushes by the Pond, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Flowering bushes bloom, and trees thrive around a quiet summer pond. Loose brushstrokes suggest the forms and movement of the greenery. The scene captures a ser...
Acrylic
Eldorado Rock Pool, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
An impressionist nature painting captures a scene in Eldorado Canyon, Colorado, overlooking a rock pool in South Boulder Creek. Hikers and bathers are drawn t...
Oil
Messy Bun, Oil Painting
By Lisa Nielsen
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A woman in a white slip dress props herself on both arms, caught in a moment of waking or preparing to rest. Her brunette hair gathers loosely in a bun. The sce...
Oil
$395Sale Price|20% Off
Mid Century French Picture Frame original Vintage Shabby Chic Grey Beige Color
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
French mid 20th century Wood and plaster frame Internal measurement (to house painting or mirror): 22 x 15 inches Overal outer measurements: 27 x 20 inches Provenance: from a collect...
Plaster, Wood
Downhill Path, Provence, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A path winds through a farm and vineyards in Provence, France. Rows of trees stretch across the landscape, drawing the eye into the distance. Painted with both ...
Acrylic
Sun Dappled Koi, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Dappled sunlight dances across a pond where koi swim just below the surface. Gentle ripples and reflections mirror their carefree movements as they feed, while ...
Oil
Moonlit Path, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A road winds through the woods, dipping and rising toward the distant horizon. Trees crowd both sides, creating a dense, enveloping border along the path. A pal...
Acrylic
Quiet Contrast, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This still life painting depicts lemons, a teapot, cups and saucers, and a bowl of grapes arranged on a fabric-lined table. The objects sit close together, fo...
Oil
The Abbey, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Warm sunlight bathes a monastery and lavender fields. Lush green hills rise in the background, framing the peaceful scene. The artwork depicts the Abbey of Se...
Oil
Lake Home View, Original Painting
By Joanie Ford
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Joanie Ford invites the viewer to experience the soothing embrace of nature in this impressionist painting. Gentle water mirrors the vibrant sky and soft...
Pastel
Orchid Trio, Oil Painting
By Joanie Ford
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Joanie Ford painted this piece from a photograph she took at an orchid garden. She wanted to tell their story using light, shadow, and a gentle diagonal ...
Oil