Impressionism
Self-Guided Group Activity
Many of these questions are designed to prompt close looking and critical thinking. Read each artwork’s label to find answers to fact-based questions.
Artwork not on view? Don’t worry: There are plenty of others to visit!
Featured Works
Plan on spending time with eight to 10 artworks. Start your exploration of French Impressionism with an example of academic painting, like The Carpet Merchant. For discussion purposes, this tour also includes examples of American Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting.
Before Impressionism
The Carpet Merchant
Jean-Léon Gérôme, The Carpet Merchant. Gallery 357
- What comes to mind when you hear the term “academic”?
- How would you describe this painting?
- What is going on?
- What do you see that makes you say that?
Early Impressionism
The Seashore at Sainte-Adresse
Claude Monet, The Seashore at Sainte-Adresse. Gallery 351
- What words would you use to describe this painting?
- How do you think Monet captured the “feel” of being on the seashore?
- How does this compare to The Carpet Merchant?
- Which artwork do you prefer? Why?
Landscape by the Lez River
Jean-Frédéric Bazille, Landscape by the Lez River. Gallery 321
- What about this painting appears most real?
- In what ways does it look more real than The Carpet Merchant?
- Describe the brushstrokes in the sky. How do these differ from the brushstrokes in the leaves?
Impressionism
Still Life with Pheasants and Plovers
Claude Monet, Still Life with Pheasants and Plovers. Gallery 351
- What’s going on in this painting?
- What do you think happened before? What will happen next?
- What appears impressionistic here?
- How closely do you think Monet observed these birds? What do you see that makes you think that?
Grainstack
Claude Monet, Grainstack (detail). Gallery 355
- Describe the range of color you see.
- Some people think this is a realistic painting; others find it more decorative. What do you think? Why?
- What events do you think led up to this moment?
- What season do you think this depicts? Why?
- What do you wonder about?
The Artist’s Daughter
Berthe Morisot, The Artist’s Daughter, Julie, with her Nanny. Gallery 351
- What do you think is going on here? What do you see that makes you say that?
- What time of day do you think it is? How do you know?
- Do you think the painting is finished or unfinished? Why?
- What impressions do you see?
Place du Théâtre Français
Camille Pissarro, Place du Théâtre Français, Paris: Rain. Gallery 355
- Where do you think the artist was when he painted this?
- What time of year do you think it is? What do you see that makes you think that?
- How has Pissarro presented an “impression” of the weather?
- Is this a place you’d want to visit? Why or why not?
Landscape, Snow Effect; le Val near Giverny
Blanche Hoschedé-Monet, Landscape, Snow Effect; le Val near Giverny (detail). Gallery 355
- What do you see in this painting? What more can you find?
- How does this painting of a snowy landscape make you feel? What about it makes you feel that way?
- What is similar and different to the landscape we see here in Minnesota during winter? What do you see that makes you say that?
- If you were to paint en plein air (painting outdoors), what time of year would you choose to paint? Why?
Portrait of Mlle.Hortense Valpinçon
Edgar Degas, Portrait of Mlle. Hortense Valpinçon. Gallery 351
- What’s going on in this painting?
- What details did Degas paint to help you see that?
- Does this painting remind you of a photograph? If so, in what ways?
- What strikes you as unusual or remarkable about it?
Following Impressionism
Olive Trees
Vincent van Gogh, Olive Trees. Gallery 355
- Describe this painting. What do you notice first?
- How has the artist expressed his feelings about nature? How would you describe those feelings?
- How does this compare to Monet’s Grainstack painting?
- Which do you prefer? Why?