“Impressionism may properly be called the greatest single disintegrating force in nineteenth century painting”. These are not words you’d like to hear if you’re a fan of Impressionism…and who isn’t, but R.H. Ives Gammell is an opinionated guy and most of what he has written concerning art has proved to be true.
Gammell (1893-1981) was no artistic slouch. Having worked under Joseph DeCamp and William Paxton, he then passed on his knowledge to Richard Lack, among others. Lack in turn became the father of the resurrected atelier system now so popular around the world.
William McGregor Paxton – “Woman Sewing” – 30″x 25″ – Oil – 1913
In his insightful book, The Twilight of Painting, Gammell discusses Impressionism and how it became a corrupting influence on painting. “The name ‘Impressionist’, first applied in derision to a small group of French landscapists, has since been given a larger meaning and is now widely used to designate an entire category of painters, in whatever period they have worked, who have been mainly preoccupied with rendering their impressions of the visible world.”
Claude Monet – “Impression, Sunrise” – 18.9″x 24.8″ – Oil – 1872
“The word ‘Impressionism’ admirably suggests this purpose and differentiates it from a realism which seeks to imitate appearances, rather than to convey an artist’s reaction to those appearances. Like all major trends in the history of art, nineteenth century Impressionism was brought to birth by the advent of individuals whose temperament led them to seek expression in new fields. These particular men had no interest in the semi-literary art of the academicians and consequently were dissatisfied with the technical methods taught in their ateliers.
“Indifferent to the world of the imagination, they were deeply stirred by the world they saw about them. The task they set for themselves was to render in paint that world as they saw it, and they took for guides those masters of the past who had been controlled by a similar purpose. Just as the academic painters based their styles on the great Italians, these men turned to the artists of Holland and Spain. Above all, Velasquez seemed to possess the artistic virtues they most prized.” (Twilight of Painting, R. H Ives Gammell, 1946)
Diego Rodriquez de Silva Velasquez – “Juan de Pareja” – 32″x 27.52 – Oil – 1650
Gammell explains that the impressionist painter reacts to the appearance of the external world around him, but warns that when he becomes exclusively absorbed with the appearance of things, he is apt to grow indifferent to their intrinsic nature.
He points out as an example still life painting in which an artist may be deeply stirred by light, shade, color, and texture, while missing what the objects themselves suggest in terms of human experience.
John Singer Sargent, who favored Velasquez, stated in 1885, “The artist ought to know nothing whatever about the nature of the object before him, but should concentrate all his powers on a representation of its appearance.” He obviously disagreed with Gammell.
John Singer Sargent – “The Fountain, Villa Torlonia, Frascati, Italy” – 28.11″x 22.24″ – Oil – 1907
All this is well and good for the artists participating in the birth of Impressionism, because for the most part, they were recipients of sound training, being influenced by teaching of the academic tradition.
Eduard Manet – “A Bar at the Folies Bergere” – 37.75″ x 51.25″ – Oil – 1882
Camille Pissarro – ‘Boulevard Montmarte’ – 28.75″x 36.25″ – Oil – 1897
Pierre Auguste Renoir – “Claude Monet Painting in His Garden at Argenteuil” – 19.69″x 24″ – Oil – 1875
“Traditional teaching made enormous demands on both teacher and pupil. Only a man in possession of very considerable knowledge and skill could pretend to teach and demonstrate the elements of this kind of painting. Only a student having exceptional enthusiasm, intelligence, and talent would be attracted by its stern discipline.”
Paul Cezanne – “Mont Sainte-Victoire” – 31″x 39″ – Oil – 1900
Well, as the Impressionist concepts of painting gained a passionate following of art students, writers, and the fashionable world, government recognition soon followed…and as Gammell points out…the inevitable happened. The art of painting and how it was taught began to decline.
John Marin – “Brooklyn Bridge” – 18.62″x 15.62″ – 1912
Raoul Dufy – “At the Races” – 18.12″x 21.62″ – 1935
Because the new movement basically threw out the baby with the bath water, a flood of new want-a-be artists, who weren’t interested in the rigors of academy training, entered the art scene…and of course some of these students became teachers…and the decline was on.
Maurice Prendergast – “Central Park, New York”- 14.12″x 21.87″ – Watercolor – 1901
When any of the foundational principles of composition, drawing, values, and color are demphasized…or one emphasized over others…all of painting suffers, and that’s exactly what happened.
Georges Rouault – “The Three Judges” – 21.88″x 41.62″ – Gouache and Oil – 1913
Pablo Picasso – “Nude Woman with Necklace” – 44.75″x 63.62″ – Oil – 1968
Andre Derain – “Three Figures on the Grass” – 38″x 55″ – Oil – 1906
As time went on, most of the teaching derived from Impressionist principles took over. Less and less stress was placed on exactitude of drawing and values. Deterioration of drawing is easily acknowledged when viewing the images shown here. With color removed, it’s also easy to discern poor value structure.
Jackson Pollock – “Shimmering Substance” – 30.12″x 24.25″ – Oil – 1946
In closing, two further comments by Gammell concerning Impressionism’s negative influence on painting are: There was great emphasis placed on one’s personal vision. This eventually evolved into what we today call self-expression. Secondly, the nature of Impressionist thought can encourage rapid execution which may result in poorly executed works…and that can be an excuse for covering up inadequacies. In my opinion, we see a lot of that today.
(All quotes are from Twilight of Painting, R. H. Ives Gammell; Photos: Art Renewal Center and Google Images)
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John Pototschnik is an Art Renewal Center Living Master
To view his art and bio, please click HERE
