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The
first lesson, 'THE STORY OF IMPRESSIONISM', is a general introduction
provided both in the form of text as well as an extended video essay.
The second lesson, 'AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE IMPRESSIONISTS' is fashioned
as an intimate encounter with the artists themselves. This lesson
has been conceived as if we were casual visitors to the artist's
studio, eavesdropping on the conversations taking place among friends
- as well as the fierce critics of the Impressionists, of which
there were many. This has been accomplished through the liberal
use of quotes from contemporary sources, including letters, artist
memoirs, newspaper reviews and other writings. In many cases, these
quotes are brought to life by actors.
In
the case of Edouard Manet and Berthe Morisot, the lesson also includes
excerpts from a recent feature film, 'The Women of Manet." The overall
result of the multimedia treatment is that of a truly personal encounter
-- an intimate 'impression' of the men and women behind the famous
names of Manet, Renoir, and Degas. The third lesson, UNDERSTANDING
IMPRESSIONISM, probes into the meaning of Impressionism, searching
for ways to explain the enduring popularity of the movement to this
day. Once again, through the use of rich graphics and audio clips,
we will examine the magic of such quintessential principles like
'plein air', the use of color (and complementary color in particular),
the liberal use of the brush, and 'casual' composition.
In
this, we will discover that Impressionism was not so much a cohesive
doctrine, but rather an informal association of related efforts
to break away from the prevailing, 'Academic' taste in art. Perhaps
the biggest influence on Impressionism was the rapid industrialization
which France underwent in the heyday of the Second Empire, including
the radical reconstruction of Paris, the rise of the 'bourgeoisie'
as the new and affluent middle class, and the development of railroad
links to the countryside. These influences, which continued after
the Franco-Prussian War in the so-called "Third Republic", are also
reviewed in this course.
The
fourth lesson, STUDIES IN IMPRESSIONISM, offers several additional
studies in Impressionism. First and foremost, it will examine the
two works which, conceivably, launched the Impressionist movement
as a social and cultural phenomenon: the "Luncheon on the Grass"
and "Olympia", two highly controversial paintings by Edouard Manet.
This course also provides detailed reconstructions of three key
locations in the Impressionist lexicon: the Café Nouvelle Athènes
(destroyed in the early 20th century); the studio of Frédéric Bazille,
perhaps the best documented Impressionist studio (also destroyed);
and the original Moulin de la Galette, now largely overtaken by
urbanization, which was the primary playground of Parisiennes of
the late 19th century, and the subject of what perhaps is Renoir's
most famous painting.
These
reconstructions are conceived as virtual, 360-degree spaces, which
you can explore - in search of additional material. This lesson
concludes with a brief study in the influence of photography, and
the role of impressionism in music.
Enjoy!
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