Impressionist Surface, The

Synopsis

Clement Greenberg’s Modernist criticism argued that Impressionism was a critical stage in the movement towards flatness and abstraction. On the other hand, T J Clark saw flatness in Impressionism as carrying meaning about the nature of modern life and as signifying modernity in itself. Paul Smith rejects both explanations as over simplified. Flatness, the use of individual brush strokes was a way Impressionists rendered ‘sensations’. Their use of colour was related to colour theory derived from scientists such as Eugene Chevreuil. Pissarro and Monet used such scientific theories to achieve greater impact and immediacy in their work. Cezanne’s work also showed that the world depicted depended on the surface depicting it. His work testifies to a struggle to hold colours and surface in balance. Degas’ depiction of realistic social and sexual life depends on the artificial or factitious technique of representing it.

Series

Modern Art: Practices and Debates, Course A316

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 24 min.

Year of production

1993

Availability

Off-air recording licence
Sale; 1998 sale: £145.00 (+VAT +p&p)

Subjects

Art

Keywords

art - modern art; Cezanne, Paul (1839-1906); Modernism; paintings - impressionist paintings

Production Company

Name

BBC Open University Productions

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk