Painting in a Photographic Age
In the latter half of the 19th century, photography was just becoming a viable art form and painting appeared to be taking a backseat to this up-and-coming medium. Proponents of photographic art argued that snapshots offered the ultimate expression of realism – they captured things exactly the way they were. In response, European painters began exploring impressionist art.
Impressionism took a look at real images and landscapes from a whole new vantage point – that of the artist. Suddenly the straightforward paintings of old were jazzed up with an emotional impact. Colors were more vibrant and lines less distinctive. It was as if artists were painting from memory, embellishing certain elements of the work even as others receded into the background. In short, the impressionists proved that oil painting was still among the most relevant of mediums.