Post-Impressionism originated in France between 1886 and 1905 as a response to the Impressionist movement. It is characterized by a subjective approach to painting, as artists opted to evoke emotion rather than realism in their work. Not unified by a single style, artists were united by the inclusion of abstract elements and symbolic content in their artwork.

Perhaps the most well-known Post-Impressionist is Vincent van Gogh, who used color and his brushstrokes not to convey the emotional qualities of the landscape, but his own emotions and state of mind.

Together with van Gogh, this art genre was pioneered by Paul Cezanne, a French painter whose work is characterized by painterly brushstrokes, an avant-garde approach to perspective, and a vivid color palette. In addition to his role as an important Post-Impressionist, Cézanne is celebrated as the forefather of Fauvism and a precursor to Cubism.

Given his prominence in these groundbreaking genres, Cézanne is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of modern art. Other leading figures of this art movement were Paul Gaugin and Georges Seurat, although their work took different directions. While their styles wildly varied, paintings completed in the Post-Impressionist manner share some similar qualities. These include symbolic motifs, unnatural color, and painterly brushstrokes.

As opposed to earlier styles, Post-Impressionism covers many different types of art, from the Pointillism of Georges Seurat to the Symbolism of Paul Gauguin. Not unified by a single style, artists were united by the inclusion of abstract elements and symbolic content in their artwork.

Post-Impressionists believed that a work of art should not revolve around style, process, or aesthetic approach. Instead, it should place emphasis on symbolism, communicating messages from the artist’s own subconscious. Rather than employ subject matter as a visual tool or means to an end, Post-Impressionists perceived it as a way to convey feelings. According to Paul Cézanne, “a work of art which did not begin in emotion is not a work of art.” Source: MET.