Post-Impressionism

Post-Impressionism is an art movement that emerged as a reaction against Impressionists' concern for the naturalistic depiction of light and color. Active from the late 1880s to the early 1900s, Post-Impressionism was not a cohesive style but rather a collective term for several styles that developed as a response to, or continuation of, Impressionism. Artists within this movement diverged into various directions, with each offering a unique approach to the explorations of their Impressionist predecessors.

The movement is marked by a departure from the ephemeral aspects of light and atmosphere championed by the Impressionists, favoring more solid forms and structures. This shift can be seen in the development of several sub-movements: Pointillism, where artists like Georges Seurat used tiny dots of color to construct an image; Cloisonnism, characterized by bold and flat forms separated by dark contours, as seen in the works of Paul Gauguin; and Synthetism, which sought to synthesize the outward appearance of natural forms, the artist's feelings about their subject, and the purity of the aesthetic considerations of line, color, and form.

Central figures such as Paul Cézanne explored geometric simplification, which influenced the development of Cubism. Vincent van Gogh's vivid color choices and emotive brushwork led to Expressionism, while Henri Matisse and André Derain, influenced by the bright colors and simplified forms of Post-Impressionism, developed Fauvism.

Post-Impressionism thus represents a pivotal moment in the development of modern art, with its artists laying the groundwork for the various paths that 20th-century art would explore. They emphasized a more personal interpretation of reality, which became fundamental to the evolution of art in the modern era. Through their varied approaches, these artists showed that the purpose of art was not just to represent the world, but to interpret and express it in new and profound ways.