My Daily Art

Summer with the Impressionists

Every year in museums around the world, Impressionist shows continue to top the attendance charts, and the Brooklyn Museum’s celebrated collection of modern French paintings certainly helped with the buzz.

I’m often asked – what is it about Impressionist art that people find so appealing, even 150 years after it was created. For me it comes down to light, colour, and the spontaneous and transparent manner in which these painters documented everyday life. For the visitor standing in front of a painting by Monet, Renoir, Degas or Pissarro, there is really not much between them and the canvas except for a moment in time a century apart.

Often working en plein air (outdoors) these artists sought to capture quickly with paint and brush the moment when the light was just right. There is something called the happiness index – a scientific measure – and it was trending high at the WAG that summer.

Summer with the Impressionists

WAG Exhibition shoot, French Moderns

Summer with the Impressionists

Summer with the Impressionists

WAG Exhibition shoot, French Moderns

Summer with the Impressionists

Summer with the Impressionists

Summer with the Impressionists

While the WAG is temporarily closed, this series of posts from Director & CEO, Dr. Stephen Borys, shares an artwork from the collection every day until the Gallery reopens. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, or visit our stories section for this and more WAG@Home content.

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