The Impressionists

May 3rd, 2006

From the BBC Press Office
“On BBC ONE, a major three-part factual drama series unravels the intimate history of The Impressionists.
 
To contemporary eyes, Impressionist paintings possess a simple and familiar beauty: the delicate hues of Monet’s water lilies and Degas’ exquisite ballerinas.
 
But these paintings caused riots in the art world when they first appeared in Paris at the end of the 19th century.
 
Viciously attacked by critics and rejected by the public, the Impressionist painters were outcasts in the art world.
 
Filmed in France and entirely based on an extensive archive of letters and documentary evidence, The Impressionists tells the intimate history of the brotherhood of Monet, Cézanne, Renoir, Manet and Degas in their own words.”

This was fascinating program to watch, two more episode’s to go (Sunday evening’s on BBC 1 in the U.K.)

Some of the comments & emotions I still hear and feel today when I exhibit my photographs, even though photography as an art has more recognition than these guys had at the time.

Funny to think that in the 1870’s photography was thought to be just a passing fad!

Entry Filed under: General