The first section of the movie explored the period of Impressionism. This era was characterized by the shift from classical art and an emphasis on light, brushstroke, shadowing, and color. The film briefly outlined how some of the first impressionist artists, such as Manet, Pissarro, and Degas, brought their new, and often controversial style and thinking into the art world. Certain well-known paintings and specific artists of this era were examined.
Following of course was the Post-Impressionist period. The Post-Impressionist artists used the Impressionist techniques of abstraction to take their art one step further. They began adding their own meaning, context, and emotion to their paintings. For instance, van Gogh used the Impressionist style to express emotion, and Seurat used the techniques as a basis for exploring optics and color. As a result of the movement, art during this time began to evolve into what we now expect from "art:" something more than just a subject; something with personal meaning and context. The documentary looked at famous paintings such as van Gogh's Sunflowers and Starry Night. While viewing the paintings in the film, it was interesting to note how some Post-Impressionist art appeared to lay the foundation for other later styles, such as Cézanne's work having a clear cubist style. Apparently Post-Impressionism not only redefined art, it was also essential in further developing and diversifying the art world.
This was a very basic film. It did not go too in depth, but provided a foundation of knowledge on Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. In terms of presentation, it was not very well put together; a lot of the paintings were repeated various times throughout the documentary, several of the experts interviewed were difficult to follow, and the graphics were mediocre. This movie would make a perfect film to show in a middle or high school art class, or for someone who knows little about Impressionist art, but would likely bore someone who already has a good understanding. I would be interested in viewing other programs in this series, as they seem to be a mildly entertaining way to learn a little bit about art!
