Final answer:
The three main themes of Impressionism are capturing the transient effects of light, focusing on ordinary life with the impression of quick moments, and using color in new ways to create vibrant scenes. Impressionists painted en plein air to accurately depict the changing qualities of light and to blend colors optically for a more dynamic effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
Themes of Impressionism The three main themes defined in the Impressionism movement are the portrayal of light and its changing qualities, the emphasis on capturing the movement of life, and the focus on ordinary subject matter approached from unusual visual angles. The Impressionists sought to represent the modern life by capturing fleeting moments, akin to snapshots, often incorporating industrial elements such as factories to symbolize contemporary existence. The essence of light was crucial, as it influenced the intensity and hue of colors within a scene; this rapidly shifting light aimed to reflect the modern, fast-paced world. When it comes to color, the Impressionists revolutionized the use of pigments by eschewing traditional color mixing on the palette in favor of placing pure, unblended colors side by side. This technique relied on the viewer's perception to optically mix these colors from a suitable distance, creating a more dynamic and vibrant visual effect. It was their innovative method of painting en plein air that allowed them to observe and replicate the variety of colors present in natural light and various weather conditions accurately. Finally, Impressionist paintings often featured ordinary subject matter, including urban and rural scenes, portrayed in a new light. They tried to arrest the essence of contemporary life by pinpointing specific atmospheric conditions like light flickering on water, moving clouds, or a burst of rain, sometimes viewed from novel angles. This emphasis on capturing a slice of life in a spontaneous fashion became one of the hallmarks of the Impressionist movement.