Final answer:
Impressionist art commonly depicted modern life and the natural world, capturing fleeting moments with new techniques in light and color influenced by industrialization. It represented a shift from previous art forms, focusing on ordinary subjects and creating snapshot-like impressions.
Step-by-step explanation:
A common theme in Impressionist art is the depiction of modern life and the natural world, reflecting the dynamic social transformations of the late 19th century. The movement focused on capturing the transient effects of light and color in en plein air settings, which were scenes of contemporary life portrayed in a way that embraced the momentary conditions of everyday experiences. Industrialization and technological advancements profoundly influenced the movement, bringing new materials and techniques to artists and enabling them to work outdoors, capturing fleeting moments with innovative uses of light, color, and brushstrokes.
Thematically, the Impressionists were concerned with illustrating the spectacle of modern life by painting scenes that included both rural and urban settings. They often depicted ordinary subjects engaging in day-to-day activities, creating artworks that resembled snapshots—raw impressions of a larger reality.
Ultimately, Impressionism marked a significant departure from the precise and detailed artworks of Romanticism and Realism, introducing a new way to express emotions and view the world around us through art.