Post Impressionism 1880-1914



1880-1914

Post-Impressionism followed the movement Impressionism, the movements have there similarity's, Both using bright colours and working out in the open.  The post-impressionist artists felt that the artists before them were focusing on the subjects more then the painting's.  Post-Impressionism really isolated the use of light, shadow and colour.  They gave a personal approach to their art works, using colour as a way of portraying emotion.   

Post-Impressionist painters moved towards nature and rural landscapes, unlike the Impressionism painters who focused on urban Paris. Post-Impressionist painters used looser brush marks, giving a some what abstract look. They weren't about giving a realistic representation on they subjects, using colours that didn't truthfully match what was in front of them. Their use of colour and perspective went on to inspire the art movements Cubism and Fauvism.

As a group Post-Impressonism look to have been a close group of people, all but Van Gogh were French. Paul Gauguin and Emile Bernard both did self portraits with the other in the background. 





Paul Gauguin
Self Portrait
with portrait of  Emile Bernard
(Les Miserables). 1888




The Spirit of the Dead, watching.
( Manao tupapau)
1892



Emile Bernard
Self Portrait with portrait of
Paul Gauguin. 1888



Paul Cezanne
Mount Sainte Victoire, view from Lauves. 1904

This is a good example of their use of loose brush work, there's no real structure to the piece. The painting is made up of fragments, I can see how this would have influenced Cubism. I think that the uses of analogous colour palettes, start to come into use roundabout this time. 


Madame Cezanne in Red Armchair.

Hortense Fiquet, 1877




Vincent Van Gogh: Almond Blossom,1890.

Another thing that Post and Impressionism share is how they were influenced by Japanese art. Van Gogh's Almond Blossom really shows this, as well as Mary Cassat; The Child's Bath.


View of Arles,
Flowering Orchards
1889.

The composition of this painting is what stood out to me first, the view is obstructed by the trees. Having the trees blocking the view feels unnatural, and a bit frustrating. Theres know hierarchy in their subject mater. My eye is naturally drawn to the little yellow house, on the left side of the tree. Van Gogh has such a unique style, the way he applies the paint gives the idea of direction and a sense of movement.  It's interesting how he's broken the painting up into three parts. This is something you see in a Biblical paintings as it represents the Father, the Son and the Holy spirit.

Portrait of Doctor Gachet (1890)

Artist: Vincent van Gogh.

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