Impressionists by the Sea @ the Phillips Collection
Impressionism, one of the most popular and accessible art movements, continues with yet another show at the Phillips Collection — on the heels of American Impressionism, comes Impressionists by the Sea, an exploration of the rise of plein air painting and vacationing on the northern coast of France. Opening tomorrow, the exhibit features the major French Impressionists, along with some of their predecessors, to present a lush visual experience.
The exhibit is a feast for the eyes – the colors are rich and electric, with turquoise seas and amber sunsets dominating canvases. Subjects range from boats to beachgoers, and the exhibit is as much a social history as an artistic one. The 19th century in France saw an increase in tourism, with many well-to-do Parisians flocking to the northern coasts, to beach towns like Trouville, Honfleur and Etretat. And the painters followed – artists like Eugene-Louis Boudin and Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot pioneered the move north, with Monet, Manet, Cassett and Renoir going up as well.
While the new seaside environment was quite different from their old painting locations, the artists manipulated it to fit their trademark styles and subjects. Monet and Manet painted modern interpretations of beach scenes, Cassatt continued to paint children and Renoir depicted women.
Though the focus is on vacation and beach activities, the natural elements of the coast are given their fair share of study too — from Daubigny’s glowing, luminous tide in The Beach at Villerville at Sunset to Courbet’s The Shore at Trouville: Sunset Effect, an off-season portrait dominated by sky, a nice contrast is set up between the geography seen here and the interior French landscape so often portrayed in Impressionist paintings.
For regular art viewers, Impressionists by the Sea raises a common question — does Impressionism get too much play? The Phillips just did an Impressionist show, about how the Americans put their own spin on the European school, and while the new show is about the French Impressionists, isn’t it time that the Phillips branched out? The answer is that Impressionist paintings are unequivocally beautiful and easy to understand and relate to — therefore visitors flock and museums make money.
Though this new show is a relatively “safe” exhibit, it is a stronger collection than American Impressionism. With more recognizable names, and with all the artists offering their interpretations of the same geographical area, it’s interesting to see how perspectives differ and how artists influenced each other.
Impressionists by the Sea runs through Jan. 13. The Phillips Collection is located at 1600 21st St. NW; see their web site for hours and admission prices.