Impressionism

Personally I am not a very big fan of Impressionism, at least from an analytical point of view. It feels as if the paintings can be interpreted many different ways, personally connecting with a variety of different perspectives. While the mass market appeal of this is clear, I cannot help but feel that the authors true meaning on the canvas is lost. In many contexts this works to the owner’s advantage, particularly in public settings where many people can quickly view and appreciate the art. But as soon as any analysis is attempted it seems very easy to project your own interpretation over that of the author. The use of color and shape to define the painting rather than the lines seen in prior art styles just seems very open-ended to me.

Impression, Claude Monet (Musee Marmottan Monet 1872)

One of the best examples of this is seen in Impression Sunrise by Claude Monet, the forefather of impressionism. Personally, i interpret the painting as depicting survivors fleeing from a burning city, mainly because of the heavy use of reds and vague shapes in the background. However, I can also easily see how it could be a fisherman leaving port in the early dawn hours to catch a meal for his family. Or perhaps it is a young couple taking a romantic boat ride at sunset. Any one of these interpretations can work for this painting, the only reason we know that it is actually a sunrise is from the title.

Perhaps the artist’s whole point is to create a variety of interpretations for a wide range of viewers, but when compared to the clearly defined works of classical and baroque, I just don’t see how this can compare.