Birth of Impressionism

This book tells the story of the beloved Impressionist movement, focusing on the tumultuous period of the 1860's and 1870's and the emergence of the "New Painting" out of the Paris Salon. Lavish reproductions of masterpieces of French painting - from the monumental canvases of Bouguereau to the landscapes and peasant scenes of Millet and Courbet - set the stage for a rich visual narrative that recounts the incubation and evolution of the Impressionist movement. The range of subject matter and techniques reflects the stylistic diversity of the artists who were part of this revolution. Drawn from the incomparable holdings of Paris's Musee d'Orsay, this stunning publication includes paintings by Manet, Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Cezanne, Morisot and Degas, among others. The paintings have been selected and thematically grouped to prompt discussion of Impressionism's many facets, including the state-run Salon system and the artistic rivalries it fostered, France's turbulent social and political climate at the time and aspects of daily life during the Belle Epoque. This companion volume to a major exhibition offers a quintessential collection of Impressionist jewels that will delight all lovers of art.