The Impressionists: Painting and Revolution (2011)

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the final years of Impressionism, beginning with the last exhibition featuring these artists together. Waldemar thoroughly examines Georges Seurat's work, reflecting on his education at the Beaux-Arts School in Paris and the influences of artists like Piero della Francesca and Puvis de Chavannes. The episode also explores the intriguing relationship between optics and art, highlighting how Impressionists utilized new insights about light and vision to shape their creations. A captivating 'after-image' experiment illustrates how we perceive color, both when it's present and when it's absent. Additionally, it sheds light on Van Gogh's lesser-known time in Paris, tracing his remarkable transformation from muted tones to vibrant colors just before his move to the South of France. The film concludes with a look at Monet's later waterlily paintings housed in the Orangerie in Paris. Waldemar investigates how severe cataracts dramatically altered Monet's color choices and brushwork. By consulting an ophthalmologist, he unc