The Neo-Classic movement began to be associated with the Enlightenment,
which in France eventually led to the radical liberalism that
played such an important part in the French Revolution towards
the final stages of that same century. In this sense, Neo-Classic
art was very much related to Classical art and its democratic
and republican spirit. Some of the major exponents of this
Neo-Classical style included Jacques-Louis
David, Antoine-Jean Gros, Anne-Louis Girodet and Jean-Auguste-Dominique
Ingres.
The Romantic movement emerged during the first half of the
19th century, in opposition to the Neo-Classical style. Romanticism
promoted subjective emotion, a liking for the exotic, artists
as individuals, independent from social purpose. Some French
exponents of the movement included Honoré Daumier,
J. B. C. Corot, Gustave
Courbet, Théodore Géricault and Eugène
Delacroix. This style was completely contrary to the balanced
harmony achieved by Classicism.
Around the mid-19th century, a new artistic movement began
to emerge, referred to as Impressionism. Having a lot of impact
in the artistic world, this style took root when first launched
at an 1874 exposition. The foremost painters representing
this style included Edgar
Degas, Claude Monet,
Camille Pissarro, Auguste
Renoir and Alfred Sisley. Cézanne,
although drawing inspiration from the impressionists, went
on to develop his own individual and unique style.
The end of the century saw the emergence of a reaction to
the impressionist movement, named the postimpressionist movement,
reflected in the works of painters such as Seurat, Van Gogh,
Toulouse-Lautrec and Gauguin.
The Revolution had a significant impact on artistic evolution
in France, given the severance with 18th century tradition
and the appearance of industrialization. Design and craftsmanship
in France’s decorative arts declined considerably as
a result.
