Impressionism: Post-impressionism emerged as a reaction to and further development of Impressionist art. While Impressionists focused on capturing fleeting moments and accurately depicting light, Post-impressionists sought to go beyond mere representation and explore deeper emotional and symbolic content.
Japonism: The influence of Japanese art, known as Japonism, was significant for Post-impressionists. Japanese prints, which were widely available in Europe during this period, introduced new compositions, bold colors, and simplified forms that inspired artists like Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin.
Synthetism: Synthetism, pioneered by Paul Gauguin, aimed to synthesize or combine different elements, such as color, form, and symbolism, to create a more expressive and evocative art. Instead of replicating reality, Gauguin simplified forms and used vibrant colors to convey emotional and spiritual meanings.
Cloisonnism: Closely related to Synthetism, Cloisonnism was a technique employed by artists like Emile Bernard and Louis Anquetin. It involved using bold outlines or "cloisons" to separate areas of flat colors, similar to the technique used in cloisonné enameling.
Symbolism: Symbolism, a broader artistic movement that emerged during the late 19th century, had a significant impact on Post-impressionism. Symbolist artists sought to convey ideas, emotions, and universal truths through symbolic imagery and subjective interpretations.
Neo-Impressionism: Also known as Pointillism, Neo-Impressionism was developed by artists like Georges Seurat and Paul Signac. It involved the application of small, distinct dots of color to create the illusion of a mixed color when viewed from a distance. This technique aimed to achieve greater luminosity and vibrancy through scientific principles of color theory.
Divisionism: Divisionism was another technique used by Post-impressionists, particularly Seurat and Signac. It involved dividing colors into their constituent parts and applying separate dots or brushstrokes of pure color side by side to create a sense of optical mixing and luminosity.
These influences and techniques contributed to the diversity and complexity of Post-impressionism, shaping its unique characteristics and encouraging artists to explore new avenues of artistic expression and experimentation.