| By Impressionism we mean the theory or style | | | | impressionist artists worked and lived. |
| of painting that originated and developed in France | | | | Many American impressionists’ artists also |
| during the 1870's. Its chief characteristics were | | | | worked and lived in California at Carmel and |
| the reaction of the artist on the immediate visual | | | | Laguna Beach; in New York on the eastern Long |
| impression produced by a scene. The painting was | | | | Island at Shinnecock. This was due to the |
| made up of primary colors that were unmixed. | | | | influence of William Merritt Chase. Frank Weston |
| Small strokes of the brush were used to give the | | | | Beston and Edmund Charles Tarbell who lived in |
| effect of the reflection of light. The style of art | | | | Boston were the other important artists who |
| was introduced in America during the major | | | | practiced the impressionist style. Till the late |
| exhibitions of the works of the French | | | | 1920's most of these art colonies of America |
| impressionists in Boston and New York during the | | | | remained the vibrant centers of the impressionist |
| 1880's. Theodore Robinson was one of the first | | | | style of art. |
| American artists to paint in an impressionistic | | | | Though impressionist style of art in America |
| mode. He was encouraged to follow this style of | | | | continued till 1920's, it took a beating and lost its |
| painting during his meeting with the renowned | | | | status in 1913 itself, when a historical exhibition of |
| French artist, Claude Monet during his visit to | | | | modern art took place at the 69th Regiment |
| France in the late 1880's. | | | | Armory Building in the New York City. This |
| The display of the increasing number of the | | | | exhibition which was also known as the 'Armory |
| French impressionist works in the American | | | | Show' heralded a new style of painting which was |
| exhibitions also influenced other renowned | | | | influenced with the increase of modern technology |
| American artists such as Childe Hassam. The | | | | and fast paced lives. Another cause of the new |
| American impressionism flourished in art colonies | | | | style of painting was the outbreak of the World |
| composed of loosely affiliated groups of artists | | | | War 1, the Great Depression and the World War |
| who lived and worked together and shared a | | | | 2. |
| common artistic vision, from the 1890's to 1910's. | | | | However, in the 1950's, almost a quarter of a |
| Art colonies were also formed in small towns and | | | | century after the death of Monet, many |
| villages where the cost of living was low. These | | | | American museums and art houses started to |
| small places also had abundant breathtaking natural | | | | organize exhibitions where the original works of |
| landscapes and scenery which offered plenty of | | | | the French Impressionists were exhibited. These |
| themes to the artists for painting. The artists also | | | | exhibitions again revived the interest of American |
| had access to the large cities nearby where they | | | | Impressionism. |
| could sell their work easily. Brown County, Indiana, | | | | This interest in Impressionism in America |
| and New Hope, Pennsylvania, on the Delaware | | | | continues to grow unabated till this day. Its |
| River; Cos Cob and Old Lyme, Connecticut, both | | | | popularity can be observed in the plein-air or on |
| on Long Island Sound; were some of the chief | | | | the location paintings which has given an impetus |
| places where most of the important American | | | | to the revival of impressionism in America. |