Impressionism, an art movement that began in France and was most prevalent from approximately 1872-1892, was an innovative and important precursor to several different art styles. It focused on capturing everyday scenes, changing light, and moments of motion. Forerunners of this movement include artists such as Édouard Manet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet, and Edgar Degas.

Characteristics of Impressionism include quick and non-blended brush strokes, occasional unmixed colors, and an overall appearance of the "impression" of a situation-- not necessarily a fully rendered, academic image.

[All images in this collection have been personally uploaded from and credited to Wikimedia Commons.]