Arts & Entertainment

Guide to Impressionism: History, Characteristics, and Artists

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Sep 13, 2021 • 6 min read

Impressionism was the artistic movement that paved the way for modern art. The work of painters like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Mary Cassatt, and Berthe Morisot represented a radical break from established conventions of French art during the nineteenth century. Since Impressionist art is now one of the most popular and well-known art movements, it is hard to imagine that during their own time, the Impressionists created art that was then considered shocking and groundbreaking.