impressionniste

Forms

impressionniste m or f by sense (plural impressionnistes)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French impression + -iste.^[2][1] The critic Louis Leroy coined it in mockery in “Le Charivari” of 25 April 1874, in an article headed “L'exposition des impressionnistes”, after the title of a painting by Claude Monet, Impression, soleil levant.^[2][3][4][5] The word soon lost its pejorative value.^[3][4]

Impression in the sense “effect produced on the senses” is from Latin impressiō.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Louis Leroy's article of 25 April 1874 uses impressionnistes as a noun for the painters exhibiting together that year;^[2][3] the adjective is recorded in 1876.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The name was first given to the painters who showed their work in a series of joint exhibitions from 1874 to 1886 and sought to render the impressions that objects and light produce;^[2][4] from that aim it came to name shared traits of technique as well.^[4]

Flaubert applied it to writers in 1876, as a noun, and in 1880 as an adjective;^[2] later it was used for musicians too.^[6][7] From 1877 the adjective also meant “conveying only subjective impressions”,^[2][7] and it is now often pejorative, of work lacking rigour.^[6]

Timeline

• 25 April 1874 – Louis Leroy uses impressionnistes in Le Charivari.^[2][3]
• 1874 – Impressionnisme is recorded.^[2]
• 1876 – The adjective appears in the Journal officiel;^[2] Flaubert applies the noun to writers.^[2]
• 1877 – Impressionniste is used of what conveys only subjective impressions.^[2][7]
• 1880 – Flaubert uses the adjective of writers.^[2]
• 1886 – The last of the group's joint exhibitions.^[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (art) A painter of the late 19th-century group who sought to render the passing impressions of light and nature; an impressionist.^[6][2][1]
2. A writer or musician whose work belongs to impressionnisme.^[6][2]

Adjective

1. (art) Of or belonging to the impressionists or to impressionism, un tableau impressionniste.^[6][2][1]
2. Conveying only subjective impressions, working by small touches.^[6][2]
3. (pejorative) Lacking rigour, vague.^[6]

Word family

• impressionnisme

Related words

• impression
• impressionner

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse