Final answer:
Claude Monet is credited with starting the Impressionistic movement with his painting Impression: Sunrise, exhibited in 1874. The term "impressionists" was coined by a critic and embraced by the artists. Impressionism is known for visual effects, vibrant brushstrokes, and plein air painting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The French painter credited with starting the Impressionistic movement with his painting Impression: Sunrise is Claude Monet. This groundbreaking artwork was showcased at the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874 and catalyzed the naming of the movement. A critic by the name of Louis Leroy, while reviewing Monet's Impression, Soleil Levant (Impression, Sunrise), coined the term "impressionists" in a derogatory sense. However, the artists, as well as the public, swiftly embraced this designation.
The style of Impressionism is characterized by the depiction of overall visual effects rather than fine details, employing short, "broken" brush strokes with both mixed and unmixed colors to attain an intense vibrancy. Monet, along with fellow artists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir and others, formed the Société Anonyme Coopérative des Artistes Peintres, Sculpteurs, Graveurs to exhibit their works independently, leading to a transformative period in art history. Despite initial mixed critical responses, Impressionism eventually gained significant public acceptance and support.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, a contemporary and cohort of Monet and one of the leaders of the Impressionism movement, painted scenes of modern life based on the reflective qualities of light, which greatly influenced this school of painting. It's notable that Impressionists often painted en plein air, capturing scenes of contemporary life out in the open air. From 1874 to 1886, the Impressionists presented their artwork in several exhibitions, gradually gaining public support for their unconventional techniques and vision.