Unit 5: Impressionism

Click or select any word to translate.

Word List

  • adj. When something is academic, it relates to schools and education.
    Alex received an award for his academic achievements.
  • n. Acceptance is when people agree that an idea, statement, explanation, etc., is right or true.
    Mr. Song celebrated his acceptance into the political party.
  • n. An array is a large group or number of things.
    The toy cars are available in an array of colors.
  • v. To blur is to make something unclear or difficult to see or remember.
    The photographer can blur the bright lights into the background.
  • n. A café is a small restaurant where you can buy drinks and simple meals.
    Monica works part-time at a café.
  • n. A canvas is a thick piece of cloth that artists use to paint on.
    The artist paints bright colors on a canvas.
  • n. A cinema is a building in which films are shown.
    My sister enjoys watching movies at the cinema.
  • n. Class is the way people in society are divided into different social and economic groups.
    This upper-class family travels on a private jet.
  • adj. When something is distinctive, it has a special quality, character, or appearance that is different and easy to recognize.
    Olives have a distinctive flavor.
  • adj. When something is key, it is extremely important.
    Marco is a key player on the country's national team.
  • n. A movement is a series of organized activities in which people work together to do or achieve something.
    Booker T. Washington was a member of the civil rights movement.
  • n. A practice is something that is done often or regularly.
    Samuel has made it a practice to read the newspaper every morning.
  • adj. When something is realistic, it is shown as it is in real life.
    Dorothy is painting realistic images of fish.
  • n. A reflection is an image that is seen in a mirror or other shiny surface.
    The man stared at his reflection in the mirror.
  • n. A rule is an official instruction that says how things must be done or what is allowed.
    Wearing a helmet while riding a bicyle is a rule in some cities.
  • n. A stroke is a single movement of a pen or brush when you are writing or painting.
    The artist began with a yellow stroke on his painting.
  • n. Sunlight is the natural light that comes from the sun.
    The sunlight shines through the trees.
  • adj. When something is traditional, it is based on old-fashioned ideas.
    I prefer traditional furniture.
  • prep. Unlike is used in place of "completely different from a particular person or thing."
    Unlike his older brother, Jim is short.
  • n. Width is the distance from one side of something to the other side.
    The man is measuring the width of the box.

 

Exercise

A ‣ Write the word from the word bank that best fits each sentence.

WORD BANK
  • practice
  • realistic
  • width
  • distinctive
  • canvas
  1. The painter splashed black paint on the _____.
  2. The sculpture is so _____ that is looks like a living person!
  3. I will never forget the woman's face because of her _____ features.
  4. It is common _____ to shake hands as a greeting in many countries.
  5. The _____ of the hallway was very narrow.

 

B ‣ Circle the two words in each group that are most closely related.

    • a. unique
    • b. array
    • c. variety
    • d. common
    • a. modern
    • b. normal
    • c. traditional
    • d. old-fashioned
    • a. unclear
    • b. sharp
    • c. round
    • d. blur
    • a. cinema
    • b. theater
    • c. screen
    • d. audio
    • a. major
    • b. insignificant
    • c. key
    • d. popular

 

C ‣ Circle the word that best fits the given definition.

  1. official instruction
    • a. rule
    • b. method
    • c. practice
    • d. menu
  2. an image seen on a shiny surface
    • a. painting
    • b. reflection
    • c. sunlight
    • d. mirror
  3. when people agree that an idea, explanation, etc. is right
    • a. argument
    • b. acceptance
    • c. promise
    • d. disagreement
  4. a single movement of paint or ink on a material
    • a. liquid
    • b. circle
    • c. letter
    • d. stroke
  5. a place where people meet for coffee
    • a. museum
    • b. school
    • c. café
    • d. cinema
  6. relating to school or education
    • a. athletic
    • b. historical
    • c. literary
    • d. academic
  7. people working together to achieve something they believe in
    • a. festival
    • b. debate
    • c. movement
    • d. parade
  8. light from the sun
    • a. laser
    • b. sunlight
    • c. flashlight
    • d. reflection
  9. different from something
    • a. thus
    • b. moreover
    • c. similarly
    • d. unlike
  10. a social or economic category
    • a. class
    • b. crowd
    • c. collection
    • d. grade

 

Impressionism

Impressionism is a movement that began in France in the late 19th century. It is considered to be the first modern art movement, as it was seen as a departure from other art. This is because it violated the established rules of academic painting.

Unlike realistic academic paintings, impressionist paintings are characterized by the depiction of light on objects. The artists aim to capture the light rather than the details in order to show an impression of time. This distinctive quality is achieved by using two key techniques. The first is a technique called "impasto." Impasto is an Italian word that means "mixture." In painting, impasto describes short, thick strokes. This technique allows the artist to control the reflection and movement of light on the canvas. The artist can modify the width and direction of the paint strokes to convey texture and give the painting a three-dimensional quality. Also, the speed and strength of the strokes can convey the artist's perception of the subject. The second technique is optical mixing. This involves the use of broken colors. In other words, instead of the traditional practice of mixing an array of colors on a palette, artists paint different colors side by side. Doing this adds texture and plays on light. And it creates the illusion of different colors.

Another difference between impressionist paintings and traditional paintings is the subject matter. During that time period, the accepted subjects were historical or literary-themes. They were often based on religious or mythological subjects. Impressionists, on the other hand, preferred landscapes and contemporary life. They often painted outdoors, using the sunlight to depict a brighter style. Even though photography was starting to become popular, impressionists avoided representing reality. They demonstrated their individualism by playing with color and blurring the lines between the subject and the background.

In the mid-19th century, the middle class in Paris saw rapid growth. The city saw an increase in cafés, cinemas, parks, and boutiques. Impressionists captured the daily lives of the middle class, which appealed to the wider public, and eventually led to the acceptance of impressionism into the art world.

 

Reading Comprehension

Part A: Mark each statement T for true or F for false. Rewrite the false statements to make them true.

  1. _____ Impressionism began in Italy in the late 19th century.
    __________
  2. _____ Impressionist painting did not follow the traditional rules of art.
    __________
  3. _____ Impressionist painting is different from realistic academic painting.
    __________
  4. _____ Impressionists often painted outside.
    __________
  5. _____ Impasto means "mixture" in French.
    __________

 

Part B: Answer the questions.

  1. What is this passage about?
    • a. Paris' art scene
    • b. The origin of Impressionism
    • c. An art style's subject matter
    • d. Painting techniques
  2. What did Impressionists like to paint?
    _____
  3. What themes did traditional painting focus on?
    _____

 

Answer Key

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