World Impressionism (Abradale Books) (Hardcover)

~ Norma Broude (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a much-needed, revelatory survey, impressionism is seen not as a French school but as a major event in the world's visual culture. The luminous palette and spontaneous brushwork of Renoir, Monet et al. inspired or coincided with an individualistic, responsive approach taken by painters from Canada and Latin America to Russia and the Far East. In Britain, the impressionist impulse helped liberate artists from Victorian painting's moralizing norms; in Japan, it fostered a style able to convey the artist's unique personality; in places as diverse as Italy, Finland and Australia, it became linked with nationalist aspirations. Childe Hassam (U.S.), Anders Zorn (Sweden), Ilya Repin and Igor Grabar (Russia) and Joaquin Sorolla (Spain) are among scores of painters profiled in a marvelously illustrated volume that will forever change the way we look at impressionism. Art historian Broude led an international team of scholars in this effort.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Though Impressionism is usually associated with the French, Broude here shows how it influenced artists worldwide. This hefty volume (517 illustrations, 300 in color) was first published in 1990 at the equally hefty price of $75. The Abradale edition offers the same quality for a better price.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 424 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (September 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810981157
• ISBN-13: 978-0810981157
• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 9.8 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #416,528 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An "eye opener", indeed..., June 2, 2000

By	Mark Malmgren (Clemson SC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For those of you who think that Impressionism was a "French thing", think again. These beautiful Impressionist paintings from Japan, Russia, Australia, Canada, South American, and many other places show, in vivid detail, that Impressionism was a word wide phenomenon.

Buy this book as a gift or for your own collection.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Book on Impressionism, July 16, 2007

By	Shelly "Aesthete" (Australia) - See all my reviews

World Impressionism is the first book to trace the evolution of this most beloved school of painting from a truly international perspective. While most people think of Impressionism as a predominately French phenomenon that began and ended with Renoir, Pissarro, Cezanne, Sisley, Manet, Monet and Morisot, this comprehensive and beautiful volume proves otherwise. Norma Broude and her team of international experts offer a soundly convincing argument for a world movement in Impressionism, and they succeed with flying colours! The scope of this book is truly breathtaking; with chapters on Impressionism in the Americas, Australia, Britain, Spain, Scandinavia, Russia and Japan amongst others. It sets out to show that towards the end of the 19th Century many artists around the world shared the same fascination with the effects of colour, sunlight and plein-air painting. The wonderful book reveals that this experimentation was not limited to a few unconventional artists working in splendid isolation, but embraced whole groups of for the most part, younger artists eager to make their mark. While in many countries an Impressionist art movement developed as a direct result of strong French influence; in others it was an evolution of independent artistic traditions that paralleled French Impressionism, such as in Italy. So although many of the artists included in this volume would not have called themselves Impressionists, their works do bear a marked similarity to the paintings of the French Impressionists.

Impressionism was an art at the crossroads; for while it is considered by most art historians as the first truly modern art school, at the same time it was in some ways the last flowering of the conservative and stale Western Realist Tradition in so called fine art. In its heyday most art critics and the general public alike were outraged and incensed by the loosely painted surfaces of the canvases, the bold use of vivid colours, or the apparent lack of academic finish. But an even worse shock for late 19th Century audiences was the sometimes controversial subject matter. For absent were the idealized mythological and biblical scenes, or portraits of the bourgeoisie, subjects that were still the mainstay of the conventional salon painters of that era. In a rebellious break with creative orthodoxy, the Impressionists chose to paint from real life; such as scenes of humble domesticity or of rural laborers honestly working away in the fields. Far more recognizable to modern audiences though are their dazzling paintings of sunbathed landscapes and seascapes, and especially their sophisticated depictions of contemporary urban life. A keen fascination in subject matter such as this was shared by many progressive artists all over the developed world who for want of a better term can be labeled Impressionists. Inspired by the art of Japanese prints and constant developments in photography the Impressionists sought to convey the increasingly frenetic pace of modern 19th Century life. Though today, with the benefit of hindsight, the paintings of the Impressionists appear quite safe and tame; and one actually wonders what all the uproar was about, especially in view of what was to come a little later in the 20th Century! World Impressionism is filled brim to brim with many vibrant examples of the timeless masterpieces created by artists from all corners of the globe. Most of the non Gallic painters included in this book are unknown outside of their respective homelands; however in the countries in which they lived and worked, it is a different story altogether. For the major paintings of many of these artists are now treasured as national icons and displayed with pride in significant art galleries and cultural institutions. This book for the first time brings together some stunning examples of their paintings in one comprehensive volume that will be appreciated by an international audience, and puts their paintings into a worldwide context.

From a young age I was exposed to the works of the Australian Impressionists; including such luminaries as Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, Charles Conder, Frederick McCubbin and second generation Impressionists like Rupert Bunny. With their evocative depictions of the hustle and bustle of colonial cities such as Sydney or Melbourne; and especially their beautiful paintings of the Australian bush and its legendary pioneers, shearers, gold miners and bush rangers... they are like a window in time on another bygone era. Painted in muted and subdued palettes these dazzling canvases perfectly capture the essence of the sun bleached Australian landscape, and are rightly considered to be genuine masterpieces of early Australian art. Looking back the creative oeuvres of this small handful of brilliant young artists have in no small way shaped how we as aussies perceive the harsh, rugged, and sometimes unforgiving yet truly unique countryside of our beloved homeland.

At around two hundred pages this hefty tome is certainly an exhausting read, but if you are patient and persevere, you will be richly rewarded. World Impressionism is now viewed by many art lovers and historians as the definitive book on this school of painting (on reading you will understand why) and with impeccable scholarship and sumptuous full colour pictures raises the standard for future titles on the subject, and will be a hard act to follow. For anyone who admires the Impressionists and loves their timeless art; I strongly urge you to buy this audaciously brilliant book, for it will broaden your horizons and perhaps give you a deeper appreciation of Impressionism.