Impressionism is a movement of art that emerged in 1870s France. It has dominated the art world for nearly 150 years., admired by art experts, popular with the public, and widely exhibited in the world’s top museums admired by art experts, popular with the public, and widely exhibited in the world’s top museums.

Impressionism started when a group of French artists broke with academic tradition by painting en Plein air—a shocking decision when most landscape painters executed their work indoors in a studio.

Rejecting the rigid rules of the beaux-arts (“fine arts”), Impressionist artists showcased a new way to observe and depict the world in their work, foregoing realistic portrayals for fleeting impressions of their surroundings—which, often, were found outside.

It is is based on the practice of painting out of doors and spontaneously ‘on the spot’ rather than in a studio from sketches. Main impressionist subjects were landscapes and scenes of everyday life.

Throughout the 19th century, most, French painters produced work that adhered to the traditional tastes of the Académie des Beaux-Arts. Tired by this age-old approach to creativity, a group of artists decided to skip the salon hype and, instead, host their own independent exhibitions. It became known as Société Anonyme Coopérative des Artistes Peintres, Sculpteurs, Graveurs -“Cooperative and Anonymous Association of Painters, Sculptors, and Engravers”.

The first group exhibition was in Paris in 1874 and included work by Monet, Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, and Paul Cezanne. The work shown was greeted with derision with Monet’s Impression, Sunrise particularly singled out for ridicule and giving its name (used by critics as an insult) to the movement.

Seven further exhibitions were then held at intervals until 1886. Although Claude Monet is considered the father of Impressionism, other core artists were Camille Pissarro and Berthe Morisot, with Edgar Degas and Edouard Manet also often associated with the movement.