F110Z Fall 2024 “Something Always Comes out of Innovations”: 1874 and the Birth of Impressionism

F110Z “Something Always Comes out of Innovations”: 1874 and the Birth of Impressionism
Friday, 1:00—2:30, Nov. 15
One session
Instructor: Christopher With
150 years ago, the art world was turned upside down. Tired of the uninspired conservatism of the Paris Salon, a group of artists banded together to exhibit a new, personal vision of aesthetic creativity. Calling themselves the Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, and Printmakers, thirty artists staged the first—of what would become several—exhibitions in the spring of 1874. Initially, they were not called “Impressionists.” The term emerged during the run of the exhibition. An unsympathetic journalist used the sarcastic synonym “unfinished” to critique one of the paintings. Despite the opprobrium, “Impressionism” became one of France’s greatest cultural achievements. To unravel all this, the class will look at the historical/political/cultural background; evaluate academic painting; describe the “impressionist” style; recount the history of the 1874 exhibition; and, finally asses its lasting influence. Although this class is designed as a preview of the “Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment” show at the National Gallery of Art (see trip 1206), it can be taken as a stand-alone class. Christopher With worked in the education department of the National Gallery of Art for 32 years and has a PhD in German history from the University of California, Los Angeles.