A new research has revealed that
famous Impressionist painters
For instance, artists like Claude Monet and Joseph Mallord William Turner might have created their subsequent artworks inspired by their smog-filled surroundings — offering a different perspective on the characteristic hazy, ethereal quality of Impressionist works.
A research carried out by scholars from Harvard University, Sorbonne University, and École Normale Supérieure revealed that works of art by renowned Impressionists such as Monet and Turner mirrored the patterns of pollution prevalent during the 1800s.
Before this research, art historians characterized Impressionism as an artistic approach focused more on perception than on depicting reality.
National Gallery of Art
Impressionism emerged with French artists during the 19th century. This movement highlighted the application of natural light, loose brushwork, and vivid hues. When attendees visited one of the initial Impressionist art shows, they observed that this artistic approach captured “the feeling evoked by a scene rather than just the scenery itself.”
The National Gallery of Art stated, “Impressionsists aimed to depict not just what they observed but how they perceived it.”
In 2022, researchers observed that numerous Impressionist works frequently portrayed urban scenes within major cities. Considering these artists painted during the peak of the Industrial Revolution—when widespread coal use led to degraded air quality—the scholars began pondering whether the distinctive atmospheric blur found in many Impressionist landscape pieces could stem from their actual surroundings filled with pollution, or if this effect was merely an inherent trait of the artistic movement itself.
Initially, researchers sought out historical descriptions of air pollution as documented by the artists themselves. As per
Tate
One of the biggest art galleries in the United Kingdom saw Claude Monet express his affection for London fog in a missive to his spouse in 1900.
I’m putting in a lot of effort, though earlier today I felt like the entire climate had shifted; upon waking, I was dismayed to find no trace of fog—no wisps of mist at all: I was disheartened, imagining all my artwork being ruined. But slowly, as fires were started and smoke and haze returned.
The researchers proceeded to analyze 100 artworks created by both Claude Monet and Joseph Mallord William Turner, who are among the most renowned painters associated with the Impressionist movement.
The researchers chose the two artists due to the era in which they were active. During an interview,
Live Science
Anna Lea Albright, one of the principal researchers for the study and an atmospheric scientist, remarked: “Turner emerged during the era of sailing ships and departed in the age of steam and coal—his life encompassed a period marked by extraordinary transformations in the environment… In contrast, Monet created his works later, amidst the advancements of the second industrial revolution in cities like London and Paris.”
The research additionally centered on Monet and Turner since neither artist experienced visual problems that could account for the blurriness in their work towards the end of their careers, as reported.
The Research Publication of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists
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Considering the perspective of artists, researchers started examining how air pollution impacts lighting conditions and contrasted these findings with archival information about sulfur dioxide levels in London and Paris throughout the Industrial Revolution.
“Air pollution absorbs and disperses light, causing distant objects to appear blurrier,” Albright explained.
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Scattering light from various wavelengths throughout the atmosphere creates a brighter, more white appearance in images, indicating the existence of air pollution.
Albright continued by comparing these findings with Monet and Turner’s work: “Over Turner and Monet’s careers, I noticed that the contours of their paintings became hazier, the palette appeared whiter and the style transformed from more figurative to more impressionistic.”
According to the published
study
Later in his career, Monet employed lower contrasts in his artwork, aligning with the patterns researchers anticipated as emissions surged to unprecedented levels in Europe. The research also revealed that Monet’s earlier works depicted landscapes with an average background visibility of 15 miles (24 kilometers), whereas in his latter period, this dropped to under four miles (6 kilometers).
We understood that Turner and Monet were creating their art during the Industrial Revolution, which brought about unparalleled environmental shifts,” Albright explained. “Their evolving styles align with our scientific understanding of how air pollution alters light.
The research indicates that the scientists examined their hypothesis alongside works by various other Impressionist artists and found consistent results: with increasing pollution levels, these artists depicted these changes in their paintings, showcasing what could be termed “pollution-driven realism,” which contrasts with the typical perception of Impressionism.
Peter Huybens, a climate researcher and professor at Harvard University who was involved in the study, commented, “While Impressionism is typically juxtaposed against Realism, our findings underscore that Turner and Monet’s impressionist creations also reflect a particular truth.”
“The notion that Impressionism incorporates specific aspects of tainted realism underscores our connection to the world around us,” he remarked.
Following your understanding of how air pollution influenced Impressionism, take a look at
40 Images Featuring the Most Impressive Street Art from Around the Globe
Next, explore the life and demise of the renowned Surrealist painter.
Frida Kahlo
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