Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Emerging in 19th-century France, Impressionist art embraced loose brushwork and plein-air painting to respond to the movement of daily life. Although the pioneers of the Impressionist movement — Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Paul Cézanne, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir — are now household names, their work was a radical break with an art scene led and shaped by academic traditions for around two centuries. These academies had oversight of a curriculum that emphasized formal drawing, painting and sculpting techniques and historical themes.
The French Impressionists were influenced by a group of artists known as the Barbizon School, who painted what they witnessed in nature. The rejection of pieces by these artists and the later Impressionists from the salons culminated in a watershed 1874 exhibition in Paris that was staged outside of the juried systems. After a work of Monet’s was derided by a critic as an unfinished “impression,” the term was taken as a celebration of their shared interest in capturing fleeting moments as subject matter, whether the shifting weather on rural landscapes or the frenzy of an urban crowd. Rather than the exacting realism of the academic tradition, Impressionist paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings represented how an artist saw a world in motion.
Many Impressionist painters were inspired by the perspectives in imported Japanese prints alongside these shifts in European painting — Édouard Manet drew on ukiyo-e woodblock prints and depicted Japanese design in his Portrait of Émile Zola, for example. American artists such as Mary Cassatt and William Merritt Chase, who studied abroad, were impacted by the work of the French artists, and by the late 19th century American Impressionism had its own distinct aesthetics with painters responding to the rapid modernization of cities through quickly created works that were vivid with color and light.
Find a collection of authentic Impressionist art on 1stDibs.
Artist Comments
A peaceful rural scene unfolds in Pennsylvania Amish country. Artist Judy Mudd captures the calm and tradition of the Amish lifestyle, evident from the clothe...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Artist Maurice Dionne illustrates crowds of people walking along the street in an impressionistic representation. "Nimbus describes the luminous cloud or atmo...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Early 20th Century Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
20th Century Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Ballpoint Pen
1920s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor, Gouache, Laid Paper
Late 20th Century Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A lighthouse stands on a grassy point, overlooking the tranquil waters of Admiralty Inlet. Its sturdy white walls and vibrant red roofs contrast with the blue...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Late 20th Century Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Archival Paper, Watercolor
1980s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Watercolor
Artist Comments
A cluster of shacks perches on the shallow side of the water. During a trip to Sausalito, California, artist Thomas Hoerber detours to the back of San Francis...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A curved staircase leads upward, where people ascend, their forms casting intriguing shadows against the warm light. The blues and grays of the sky and struct...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Late 20th Century Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Watercolor
Artist Comments
Artist Siyuan Ma presents an impressionist depiction of the Hanging Temple, a famous cultural landmark in China. Its Chinese name takes the character "Xuan" f...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
1970s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Crayon, Conté, Laid Paper
Artist Comments
Drawing inspiration from a boathouse floating on the water at Coal Harbour in Vancouver, artist Maurice Dionne paints this idle watercolor scene. In the foreg...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Artist Siyuan Ma depicts Shanhua Temple, located inside the ancient city of Datong in Shanxi Province. A key cultural relic under sta...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
1940s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor, Laid Paper
1980s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Watercolor
Late 20th Century Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Archival Paper, Watercolor
1950s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Watercolor, Color Pencil
1980s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Watercolor
Early 2000s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Monotype, Paper
20th Century Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Mid-19th Century Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Pastel
2010s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Watercolor
Artist Comments
A busy city street comes to life at dusk. The limited color palette and the angle capture the fading light, casting a soft glow over buildings and cars. The p...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Late 20th Century Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Archival Paper, Watercolor
1980s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor, Paper
2010s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Watercolor
Artist Comments
Artist Siyuan Ma shares a view of the Hanging Temple, a famous cultural landmark in China. Its Chinese name takes the character "Xuan" from Chinese Taoism an...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Artist Comments
The artwork captures the essence of a quaint Parisian café. Artist James Nyika's use of color and light brings the scene to life, creating a sense of warmth ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A romantic scene unfolds outside the Le News Café in Paris. A waiter serves a couple against the backdrop of the bustling city. Artist James Nyika's skillful...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Two figures stand near an open doorway of a rustic house. The summer sun casts bright light and soft shadows onto the scene. Artist Patty Phan depicts her Europ...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Late 20th Century Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Archival Paper, Watercolor
Artist Comments
A rustic white barn stands in quiet solitude, its weathered walls telling a story of the past. A dirt path winds toward a misty, atmospheric backdrop. The sof...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A quaint restaurant in Little Italy, San Diego, California, invites visitors to enjoy a fulfilling meal. Shadows, signage, and reflections create visual intri...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
1980s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Watercolor
2010s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor
Artist Comments
A rustic red barn nestles among the lush greenery at the Thomas Ranch on Old Northville Road. Mt. Diablo peeks through the trees while vibrant wildflowers sca...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Early 20th Century Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
2010s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Pastel, Archival Paper
Artist Comments
Cozy cottages line up snugly on a quiet street in the coastal town of Mendocino, California. The scene leads to the top of the road, where the sky blends into...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Yellow houses bask in the soft light of spring, their warm tones contrasting with the cool shades of trees and shadows on the ground. A lone figure walks alon...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
2010s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Watercolor
2010s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Watercolor
2010s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Foil
1930s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor, Laid Paper
2010s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Pastel, Archival Paper
Artist Comments
An abandoned warehouse stands quietly on the side roads of Camarillo, California. Despite the gray, overcast day, the building still displays intriguing color...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
1980s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Watercolor
1980s Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor, Paper
Artist Comments
Artist Siyuan Ma illustrates the Shanhua Temple, located inside the ancient city of Datong in Shanxi Province–a key cultural relic under state-level protec...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Artist Siyuan Ma depicts Shanhua Temple, located inside the ancient city of Datong in Shanxi Province–a key cultural relic under state-level protection. "S...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Artist Maurice Dionne shows the activity around the transit station, waiting for an incoming train. "In this particular case, we are at the U of Ottawa statio...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Artist Siyuan Ma depicts a temple towering on the ancient city walls of China. These buildings stand as critical defensive structures and serve as important p...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Artist Siyuan Ma depicts an impression of one of the ancient city walls in China. These walls serve as important defensive structures - products of Chinese ar...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Artist Judy Mudd presents a harmonious pastoral panorama—an entry to her series of impressionist landscapes. "I wanted to capture a farm scene at the beginn...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Interior Drawings and Watercolors
Watercolor
