Post-impressionism: its most important characteristics, authors and paintings

Post-impressionism or post-impressionism designates the set of pictorial styles that succeeded Impressionism between approximately 1875 and 1905, in France. It was not a movement with its own program, but rather a period in which a generation of artists developed the will to differentiate style, induced by Impressionism.

What is the difference between Post-Impressionism and Impressionism? Although the Post-Impressionists based their work on the use of color experienced by the Impressionists, they were opposed to accurately reflecting nature and presented a subjective view of the world. Thus, they displayed greater formal and expressive freedom.

The term post-impressionism was coined by the British critic Roger Fry in 1910, after an exhibition by Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh in London. Other prominent painters were Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Georges Seurat.

That it was not a programmatic movement should not make us underestimate its importance. The conceptual, technical and aesthetic contributions of Post-Impressionism made the avant-garde of the 20th century possible. For this reason, this article will allow us to understand how the avant-garde - especially expressionism, the phovism and cubism - found in post-impressionism their creative inspiration and their willingness to breaking off.

Characteristics of Post-Impressionism

Expressing subjectivity through forms brought with it the liberation of the artistic style. Post-Impressionists did not paint following academia or group trends. Rather, they went out of their way to find a unique plastic style that not only expressed them but distinguished them individually. Consequently, it was very diverse. Still, some common characteristics can be noted.

Subjectivity prevails over verisimilitude

Until the 19th century, Western art was based on the imitation of nature (naturalism). Therefore, the artists strove to achieve an effect of verisimilitude. Post-Impressionism dared to alter the forms of nature based on personal expression. Of course, the Romantics were the first to proclaim subjectivity in art and the Impressionists had found new techniques, but both remained faithful to verisimilitude. Thus, although Post-Impressionism was romantic in purpose, it represented an aesthetic turning point.

For example, on the canvas The starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, the figures are exaggerated or deformed using various technical resources to express the way in which the artist perceives himself in the face of reality.

Color for expressive purposes

The use of colors in Post-Impressionism does not correspond to nature but to the expressive intentions of painters. Likewise, these colors are often used pure on large surfaces, which cancels the spatial depth. Thus, colors are symbols of a particular language of each artist, and must be interpreted in context.

For example, in the box The vision behind the sermon by Paul Gauguin, we can see the use of flat and contrasting colored surfaces. Likewise, the painter challenges the codes of representation of the angelic and spiritual world through coloring rich in contrasts.

Exploration of new plastic techniques

Post-Impressionism gave way to an inquiry into plastic languages ​​and pictorial techniques. Some of these techniques and resources include:

• Pointillism, which composes shapes by applying thousands of points side by side.
• Tendency to the geometrization of forms by reducing them to basic elements.
• Well outlined thick contours.
• Flat color areas, without concern for the volume of the figures.
• Suppression of spatial depth in most cases.
• Use of thick brush strokes and smudges.

Interest in the exotic

Like Impressionism, Post-Impressionism maintained an interest in exotic art. Only, in addition to Japanese art, artists were interested in ancient art from non-Western cultures - such as Egypt -, folk art, and primitive art.

For example, on the canvas The marketby Paul Gauguin, the author shows a theme drawn from a non-Western culture, including a different sense of coloring. At the same time, he applies aesthetic elements of Egyptian art. Note the front torso and profile legs of the female characters. Note also the representation of men in the background, reminiscent of Egyptian frescoes.

Most important authors and paintings of Post-Impressionism

Since Post-Impressionism was very diverse, it is convenient to review some of the most prominent artists of it and stop at its particularities. In reality, no artist was similar to the other, except in the will of individual expression and in the passion for color.

Vincent van Gogh

Influenced by the Japanese impressionists and engravers, Vincent van Gogh experimented with the techniques of the time. He had a genuine interest in Gauguin's work. Passionate about intense and pure colors, he used undulating brushstrokes and intense yellows, greens and blues. Likewise, he recreated beauty through color. Van Gogh did not portray reality as it was, but as it was felt by him. Color has a symbolic use, an approach that put Van Gogh in the eyes of expressionism.

In the work Cafe terrace at night, Van Gogh shows for the first time the motif of the starry skies, which will become recurrent in his later works. Note also the unreality of the fiery yellow tones. They are tones that the light of a lamp cannot give. It is, therefore, an intensified color when associated with a state of mind.

Some of his most important works are Cafe terrace at night, The starry Night, Sunflowers, Self portrait Y Arles Room.

It may interest you: 16 cool paintings by Vincent van Gogh

Paul gauguin

Gauguin's proposal focused on wide and flat surfaces loaded with fiery color, thereby attempting to return to the communicability of popular art. For this purpose, he immersed himself in early Breton art and also studied archaic forms of art.

For example, on the canvas Yellow christ, Gauguin is inspired by an anonymous polychrome carving from the 17th century, of a popular character, located in the church of Trémolo, near Pont-Aven.

He covered a very wide spectrum of subjects: from scenes of everyday life to scenes charged with superstition. His colorful daring was a precedent for Fauvism. Among his main works we can mention: The yellow Christ, Tahitian women, The market Y The vision behind the sermon.

It may interest you: Fauvism: what is it, characteristics and works

Paul cezanne

Paul Cézanne was characterized by the reduction of the forms of nature to their essential geometric volumes, such as cylinders, cones and spheres. In this way, Cézanne anticipated Cubism and became a reference. For example, on the canvas Bathers, Paul Cézanne makes a graphic synthesis of the bodies until they approximate them to cylindrical shapes.

He was also interested in prismatic light and color modulation, going over the traditional chiaroscuro. With these resources, Cézanne highlighted the material qualities of the painting.

Some of his best known works are: Bathers, Woman in blue, Baskets of apples Y The Maria house on the way to Château Noir.

It may interest you: Cubism: characteristics, authors and most important works

Georges seurat

Some critics classify Seurat as a Neo-Impressionist rather than a Post-Impressionist. However, Seurat distinguished himself from Impressionism and approached Post-Impressionism by rejecting the blurring effect of forms and returning to work in the studio.

This was expressed concretely in the invention of the pointillism technique - his main contribution to it -, with which he obtained solid forms with very defined volumes, a true distinctive feature. Even so, his interest in the themes of everyday bourgeois life, especially his entertainment, kept him related to impressionism.

Some of his best known works are: Sunday afternoon on the island of La Grande Jatte, The circus stop, The models Y A bath in Asnieres.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was a Parisian draftsman, painter and illustrator of the transition between Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. His work drew attention both for its themes - almost always the nightlife of Paris - and for its technical treatment. In addition, he was very prominent in poster art. For this reason, his work has had a great influence on twentieth-century graphic design.

Due to his nature as a draftsman and illustrator, his distinctive feature was the use of the notorious line, many times corrected or revised. He also stood out for the use of novel framing, and adopted elements of the Japanese print. His works bring together a diversity of formats and techniques: pastel or gouache on cardboard, lithography, oil on canvas, etc.

In the work At the Moulin Rouge, the dance, the predominance of the line can be distinguished, sometimes thick and well defined, and other times complementary or covered.

Among his best known works are At the Moulin Rouge, the dance; In bed, the kiss Y Moulin Rouge: La Goulue.

You may also like: Impressionism: characteristics, works and most important artists

Context of post-impressionism

The historical context of Post-Impressionist art is situated in the last quarter of the 19th century. The industrial revolution continued its rise and society became more and more massive. The written press, poster art and advertising were growing. There was also growing interest in scientific research (natural and social) and experimentation, considered a sign of progress.

The perception of a cultural change made art an area of ​​permanent experimentation since the appearance of Impressionism, despite its dissolution around 1875. The next generation of artists maintained the experimental spirit, but this coexisted with their social and political disappointment with public order. The inner world seemed like one more place genuine.

In a mass society, the Post-Impressionists continued to experiment in search of a voice of their own. They represented reality, yes, but not as it is conceived by reason (realism) or as it is perceived by sight (impressionism). They represented reality as it was felt individually. Accounted for its inner reality.

So much individuality was uncomfortable for average taste and patrons, too used to trusting the judgment of critics and academia. Van Gogh, Cézanne and Gauguin were never recognized. Even the retrospective exhibition after his death in 1910 was not successful. It was the artists of the historical avant-gardes who valued his contributions. Today, paradoxically, his works are priced in millions of dollars.

It may interest you:

• Impressionism: characteristics, works and most important artists
• Expressionism: characteristics, works and authors