French Impressionism

French Impressionism

1.      

·         Impressionist painting characteristics:

-          relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes,

-          open composition,

-          emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities,

-           and unusual visual angles.

This picture is made by one of the most important French impressionist painters Camille Pisarro. The painting is called “Boulevard Montmartre” and it was published in 1897.  

This amazing art piece was painted by the painter Edgar Degas, the piece is called “The Dance Lesson c.” and it was published in 1879.

1.       The decrease of the economic activity after World War 1 made artist create/come up with new ideas and techniques in order to make cinematography more popular.

2.       Camera: the distance from the camera to the main object/person  is a close-up, the camera angle is mostly high or low and the camera movement  was mostly independent of the subject, of graphic effects,  points of view.

Lighting: the lighting was normally very low and shadows were used, they created sense of mystery.

Optical devices: transitions, magical effects, paying attention to significant details, pictoral decoration, conveyors of abstract meanings, and as indicators of objectivity. 

3.       -      Abel Gance (La Dixième symphonie (1918), J’Accuse (1919), La Roue (1922), and above all, Napoléon (1927)). He was interested in sound films when they came out, in telling a story.

-          Germaine Dulac (The Smiling Madame Beudet (1922)). He liked the music, mostly operas.