Post-Impressionism

Post-Impressionism is a painting movement that developed mainly in France from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. While inheriting the achievements of Impressionism , it was not satisfied with its techniques and ideals, and instead gave rise to a variety of styles of expression that emphasized the individuality of each painter. Post-Impressionism had a decisive influence on 20th century art, such as Fauvism and Cubism .

History of Post-Impressionism

• In the mid-1880s, young painters who were dissatisfied with the techniques and ideas of Impressionism began to search for new forms of expression.
• After the 8th Impressionist Exhibition in 1886, the Neo-Impressionist movement led by Seurat and Signac , as well as the individual activities of Cézanne , Van Gogh , and Gauguin , attracted attention.
• The term "Post-Impressionism" was popularized by the name of an exhibition organized by Roger Fry in 1910 called "Manet and the Post-Impressionists."
• From the 1890s to the 1900s, the activities of Post-Impressionist painters reached their peak and had a major influence on subsequent art movements.

Representative artists and their works

• Paul Cézanne: Mont Sainte-Victoire series (after 1885)
• Vincent van Gogh: The Starry Night (1889)
• Paul Gauguin: Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? (1897)
• Georges Seurat: A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (1884-1886)
• Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec: Moulin Rouge, La Goulue (1891)

Unlike the Impressionists, Post-Impressionist painters did not share a single technique or philosophy. However, they all developed the Impressionist plein air expression while each of them developed their own individuality. Cezanne tried to capture the solid structure of nature, while Van Gogh expressed intense emotions with color and brushstrokes. Gauguin created decorative paintings imbued with symbolic meaning. Seurat explored strict painting composition through pointillism. In this way, Post-Impressionism can be said to have been an important painting movement that opened up the possibilities for a variety of painting expressions that followed.

The individualistic pursuits of Post-Impressionist painters left a significant legacy on 20th century art. Cézanne 's constructive paintings influenced Cubism, Van Gogh 's expressionist style influenced Fauvism and Expressionism, and Gauguin 's decorative style influenced the Nabis. In that sense, Post-Impressionism can be said to have played a decisive role in the development of modern painting.