Summary:
This paper explores the use of light and color and the expression of emotions in Impressionist landscape paintings. First, the origin and development background of Impressionism is introduced, and then the importance of light and color in this art school is discussed in detail. Through the selection and treatment of color and light, the Impressionist painters expressed their personal emotions, attitudes towards nature and the environment, and resonated emotionally with the audience. This article summarizes the three core roles of light and color in Impressionist landscape oil painting: as a tool for the expression of the painter's personal emotions, as a reflection of the painter's attitude towards nature and the environment, and as an emotional resonance with the audience.
I. Introduction
Impressionist landscape oil painting is an important art genre that emerged from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, which is characterized by the pursuit of instantaneous feeling and subjective expression, breaking the shackles of traditional painting and having a profound impact on the development of art in the future. Among them, the use of light and color is regarded as one of the most important artistic techniques of Impressionist landscape oil painting. Through precise color selection and light and shadow manipulation, the painters create a striking language of art forms that bring the light and color of nature to life.
II. Artistic characteristics of Impressionist landscape oil painting
A. Definitions and Origins
Impressionist landscape painting is an art style that emerged in Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and its origin is in France. The word "Impressionism" in Impressionist landscape oil painting originates from a famous work "Sunrise Impression" by French painter Monet, which is considered to be one of the representative works of Impressionist landscape oil painting and a symbol of the Impressionist art movement. Impressionist landscape oil painting takes the theme of capturing the instantaneous light, shadow and color changes, emphasizes the direct observation and feeling of nature, and pursues personal impressions and emotional experiences of natural scenery. Therefore, the artistic characteristics of Impressionist landscape oil painting mainly include the following aspects:
Emphasizing sensory experience: Impressionist landscape oil painting emphasizes the sensory experience and intuitive feeling of natural scenery, and the painters capture the ever-changing natural scene through the keen observation and expression of light, color and shape, presenting a rich and colorful art world.
Pay attention to color and light and shadow: Color and light and shadow are the core means of expression in Impressionist landscape oil painting. Through the precise selection and use of colors, as well as the creation of light and shadow effects, the painters show the changes of natural scenery and the refraction of light, so that the picture presents a vivid and rich visual effect.
Blurred contours and the relationship between light and shade: Impressionist landscape oil paintings often use fuzzy outlines and light and dark relationships, emphasizing the change of light and shadow and the blending of colors, making the picture more dynamic and atmospheric, and enhancing the imagination of the viewer.
Pursuit of Authenticity of Nature: Although Impressionist landscape oil paintings emphasized the subjective feelings and emotional experiences of individuals, painters still pursued the true and accurate representation of natural landscapes, striving to capture the momentary beauty of the natural world, showing awe and praise for nature.
B. Overview of the artist and the work
Impressionist landscape oil painting has emerged many outstanding artists, who have jointly constructed the colorful landscape of Impressionist art through their own unique artistic styles and expressions. The following are some representative Impressionist landscape oil painting artists and their representative works:
Claude Monet (1840-1926): Claude Monet is considered one of the pioneers and representatives of Impressionist landscape painting, and his works such as the Water Lilies series and Impression Sunrise have become representative works of Impressionism. Known for his unique use of color and light and shadow effects, Monet created artistic images full of vitality and vitality through his meticulous observation and feeling of natural scenery.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919): Renoir is another important exponent of Impressionist landscape painting, whose works such as "Lunch Boat" and "The Ball in Mogonbe" are distinguished by their soft colors and vivid brushstrokes, showing a love of life and a celebration of nature.
Alfred Sisley (1839-1899): Sisley was one of the more low-key artists of Impressionist landscape painting, and his works such as "Argentine Road" and "Windmill" all show his keen observation and expressive ability of light, shadow and color, reflecting his unique understanding and emotional experience of natural scenery.
Édouard Manet (1832-1883): Although Manet was not strictly an Impressionist painter, his work had an important influence on the development of Impressionist landscape painting. His works such as "Lunch on the Grass" and "Olympia" are avant-garde in terms of expression and theme, opening up a new path for the development of Impressionist art.
III. The Representation of Light and Color in Impressionist Landscape Painting
A. Color selection and use
Contrast vs. saturation
One of the unique features of the Impressionist landscape paintings is the choice and use of color. The painters paid attention to the use of contrast and saturation to highlight the richness and vividness of the natural landscape. Contrast refers to the degree of difference between colors that appear simultaneously in a picture. The Impressionists were good at using contrast to enhance the visual effect and tension of the picture, so that the picture was more vivid and vivid. For example, they often contrast warm and cold colors, such as blue sky with yellow sunlight, green grass with red flowers, etc., to create a strong visual impact.
At the same time, the Impressionists also paid attention to the use of saturation. Saturation refers to the degree of purity and intensity of a color, with high-saturation colors being more vivid and bright, while low-saturation colors are softer and more elegant. In Impressionist landscape oil paintings, painters often use highly saturated colors to express the vividness and vitality of natural scenery, making the picture full of vitality and tension. For example, they use vivid reds, oranges, and yellows to depict the sky and clouds in the setting sun, as well as flowers and leaves in the grass, to give the picture a warm and bright color atmosphere.
Hue and color temperature
In addition to contrast and saturation, the Impressionists also focused on the use of hue and color temperature. Hue refers to the overall mood and tonal tendency of a color, while color temperature refers to how warm or cold a color is. In Impressionist landscape paintings, painters used clever tonal and temperature arrangements to make the picture present a specific emotional atmosphere and atmosphere. For example, when depicting a landscape in the early morning, they use cool and low-temperature colors to convey a sense of freshness and tranquility, while when depicting a landscape in the afterglow of the sunset, they use warm tones and high-temperature colors to convey a warm and energetic atmosphere.
B. Creation of light and shadow effects
Changes and expressions of natural light
The Impressionists were good at capturing the changes and effects of natural light, and through the accurate observation and expression of light, the picture presented a variety of light and shadow effects. They are adept at using the refraction and reflection of light to express the changes in natural scenery and the effects of light and shadow. For example, when depicting trees and water surfaces, they use light from different angles and intensities to represent subtle changes in leaves and water waves, thereby enhancing the three-dimensional and layered sense of the image.
In addition, the Impressionists also focused on capturing the momentary beauty of natural light, such as the early morning sun, the afternoon sun, and the evening sunset. Through the accurate observation and performance of light, they make the picture present a real and vivid light and shadow effect, thereby enhancing the visual impact and expressiveness of the picture.
Handling of light and shadows
In Impressionist landscape paintings, the treatment of light and shadow is one of its unique features. Painters are good at using the contrast of light and shadow to enhance the three-dimensional and layered sense of the picture, so as to make the picture richer and three-dimensional. For example, when depicting buildings and trees, they enhance the realism and expressiveness of the picture by accurately observing and representing light and shadows, so that the picture presents a clear outline and three-dimensionality.
IV. The influence of light and color on the expressiveness of the picture
A. Enhance the visual impact of the picture
Light and color played a vital role in Impressionist landscape paintings, enhancing the visual impact of the picture. Through the use of contrast and saturation, painters are able to create strong and vivid color contrasts that make the picture more vivid and striking. The use of contrast can be between warm and cold colors, or chiaroscuro. For example, when depicting landscapes at dusk, painters often use deep blue skies to contrast strongly with orange-red sunsets, giving people a sense of shock and beauty.
In addition, highly saturated colors can also enhance the visual impact of the picture. Painters are adept at using bright red, orange, yellow and other colors to depict natural scenes such as sunsets, flowers and meadows, making the picture vibrant and intense. Through the use of strong contrasts and saturation of colors, the Impressionists were able to break the traditional way of realistic expression, making the picture more expressive and visually appealing.
B. Create atmosphere and emotion
Light and color not only enhance the visual impact of a picture, but also create a specific atmosphere and emotion. In Impressionist landscape paintings, painters use tones and color temperatures to make the picture present a specific emotional atmosphere and atmosphere. For example, when depicting an early morning landscape, they use cool and low-temperature colors to convey a sense of freshness and serenity. Such a choice of tones and color temperatures allows the viewer to feel the tranquility and pleasantness of the early morning, evoking a deep inner peace and tranquility.
Conversely, when depicting a landscape in the afterglow of a setting sun, painters use warm tones and colors with high color temperature to express a warm and energetic atmosphere. Such a choice of colors allows the viewer to feel the warmth and comfort of the sunset, inspiring inner pleasure and happiness. Therefore, through the precise grasp and expression of light and color, the Impressionist painters were able to resonate and communicate emotionally with the viewer through the atmosphere and emotion conveyed by the painting.
C. Representation of changes in time and space
Light and color can also express the changes of time and space in Impressionist landscape paintings. By capturing the changes and effects of natural light, the painters are able to create realistic and vivid light and shadow effects in the picture, so that the viewer can feel the passage of time and the change of space. For example, when depicting trees and water surfaces, painters use light from different angles and intensities to express subtle changes in leaves and water waves, thereby enhancing the three-dimensional and layered sense of the picture. The viewer can feel the details and changes brought about by the projection and reflection of the light, as if they were actually there.
In addition to the changes in time, light and color can also express the changes in space. Through the treatment of light and shadow, the painters were able to create clear contours and three-dimensionality in the picture. Through the precise observation and representation of light and shadow, the painters are able to bring an immersive feeling to the viewer, allowing the viewer to feel the distance and position of the objects in the picture, thus creating an illusion and change of space.
V. The expression of the painter's emotions in the use of light and color
A. Expression of personal feelings
The use of light and color by the Impressionists is not only an objective depiction of natural scenes, but also an expression of the painter's personal feelings. Through the selection and processing of light and color, painters are able to integrate their own emotions into their works, giving them a unique personal style and emotional color.
By adjusting the saturation, lightness and contrast of the colors, the painter is able to express their deep emotional state. For example, when a painter uses bright, vibrant colors, he or she can often convey feelings of joy, energy, and optimism, while when he uses soft, low-saturation colors, he can often convey feelings of melancholy, contemplation, and loneliness.
In addition, the painter expresses his emotions through the use of light. The light, shade, softness and intensity of the light can convey different emotional atmospheres. For example, a soft twilight afterglow can evoke serenity, warmth, and romance, while strong sunlight can convey emotions of warmth, vitality, and vitality.
B. Reflection of attitudes towards nature and the environment
The use of light and color in the Impressionist landscape paintings also reflects the painter's attitude towards nature and the environment. The Impressionists' observation and feeling of natural scenery enabled them to express their love, awe and praise for nature from a unique perspective.
Through the capture and expression of natural light, the painters convey a sense of awe for nature and praise for its beauty. They are adept at observing the changes of light in different environments, such as the projection of sunlight through the leaves of trees, the reflection on the water surface, etc., so as to create a lifelike effect of light and shadow, so that the viewer can feel the magic and beauty of nature.
In addition, the painters' attitude towards the environment is also reflected through the use of color. Impressionist painters often used bright, highly saturated colors to depict the beauty and richness of nature, expressing their love and appreciation for nature. Through the use of colorful colors, they depict a pastoral scene with flowers in full bloom and sunny sunshine, allowing the viewer to feel the charm and vitality of nature.
C. Emotional resonance with the audience
The use of light and color is not only an expression of the artist's personal emotions, but also a bridge to establish emotional resonance with the audience. Through the precise use of light and color, the Impressionists created vivid and interesting pictures, so that the viewer could feel the emotions and artistic conceptions conveyed by the painters.
Through the choice and use of color, the painters are able to arouse the emotional resonance of the audience. Bright, bright colors often evoke a sense of joy and joy and evoke positive emotions in the viewer, while soft, understated colors often evoke introspection and reflection in the viewer. Through the skillful use of light and color, the painters are able to guide the viewer to empathize emotionally with the work, allowing the viewer to understand and appreciate the work more deeply.
VI. Conclusion
The use of light and color in Impressionist landscape oil painting is one of the core characteristics of this art genre, which expresses the painter's personal emotions, attitude towards nature and environment through the selection and treatment of color and light, and resonates emotionally with the audience.
First of all, light and color are the tools for the expression of the painter's personal emotions in the Impressionist landscape oil painting. By adjusting the saturation, lightness and contrast of the colors, the painters are able to convey their innermost emotional state. Bright, vibrant colors often express emotions of joy, energy, and optimism, while soft, low-saturation colors express emotions of melancholy, contemplation, and loneliness. The brightness, softness and intensity of light can also convey different emotional atmospheres, such as the tranquility, warmth and romance brought by the afterglow of dusk, and the enthusiasm, vitality and vitality brought by sunlight. These expressions of emotion give the work a unique personal style and emotional color.
Secondly, the use of light and color in the Impressionist landscape oil paintings reflects the painter's attitude towards nature and the environment. Through the capture and expression of natural light, the painters convey a sense of awe for nature and praise for its beauty. By depicting the changes of light in different environments, they create vivid and lifelike effects that make the viewer feel the magic and beauty of nature. Painters use bright, highly saturated colors to depict the beauty and richness of nature, expressing their love and appreciation for nature. Through the use of colourful colours, they create an idyllic scene of blooming flowers and sunshine, allowing the viewer to feel the charm and vitality of nature.
Finally, the use of light and color resonates emotionally with the viewer in the impressionist landscape paintings. Through the selection and use of color, the painters arouse the emotional resonance of the audience. Bright, bright colors can evoke a sense of joy and joy and inspire positive emotions in the viewer, while soft, understated colors evoke introspection and reflection in the viewer. Through the skillful use of light and color, the painters are able to guide the viewer to emotionally resonate with the work, allowing the viewer to understand and appreciate the work more deeply.
Author: Lu Xilin
Bibliography:
House, J. (2014). Impressionism: Paint and Politics. Yale University Press.
Mannering, D. (2010). Impressionism. Flame Tree Publishing.
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