Introduction to Post-Impressionism

The first thing to remember about Post-Impressionism is that it is not a single style. The term was coined by Roger Fry, an early twentieth-century art critic, to describe a group of avant-garde artists who came after (“post”) Impressionism. Consequently, Post-Impressionism is more of a movement or period than a style. These artists did not share the same artistic style or aims; however, they each built upon specific characteristics of Impressionism (loose brushstrokes, color theory, bourgeois leisure pursuits, nature) as they furthered their individual approaches to art. These approaches can be divided into two primary directions: structure vs. expression. Georges Seurat and Paul Cézanne took a more scientific, analytical approach to Impressionism, and Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin explored the expressive potential of brushstrokes and color.