In the last quarter of the 19th century, steam trains and ships moved artists around, playing an important role in introducing masters to the south of France.
Monet
In the 1870s, Manet and Monet introduced steam trains to the world of art. At the Salon, they were met with ridicule, but became an important theme in Impressionism.
In 1885, it was Monet’s first test of his new method of painting the same motif in different light, weather and seasons. He later used this for his Grainstacks and Rouen Cathedral series.
Between Le Havre and Fécamp on the north coast of France is a spectacular chalk cliff. Here’s the story and its paintings prior to its fame.
Erotic prints, maritime history, gripping stories of the Arctic, a ‘problem picture’, and landscapes – a very eclectic artist indeed.
Did Vermeer use a camera obscura? What went wrong with Impressionist oil sketches? When did Klimt paint from photographs? Does any of this really detract from the art in a painting?
Its peak with Bonington, Friedrich, Corot and others. Decline in Impressionism to deliberate omission in ‘primitives’ such as Cézanne and Astrup.
From Monet’s rhythmic arrays of poplar trees on the banks of the River Epte to Holder’s arrays of figures, more examples of this technique.
Impressionists seem not to have taken to skying, and most of their paintings have high horizons. But there are exceptions.
The last years of the nineteenth century were highly productive, with landscapes and Symbolist works too.
