Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from The National Gallery of Art

by Kimberly A. Jones

This dazzling selection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings features lavish reproductions, lively commentary, and a beautiful slipcase that will delight art lovers. The National Gallery of Art in Washington possesses nearly 400 French impressionist and post-impressionist paintings—one of the finest collections of its kind in the world. This book celebrates that collection with 50 of the Gallery’s best-known works, which represent a generous cross section of impressionist and postimpressionist art at its most breathtaking. Reproduced with stunning quality, the full- and double-page illustrations allow readers to savor Van Gogh’s vibrant palette, the lushness of Monet’s gardens, the texture of Cézanne’s still lifes, and the delicate beauty of Renoir’s women. Works by Gauguin, Seurat, Bazille, and Toulouse-Lautrec display the wide range of styles encompassed by the impressionist and post-impressionist periods. Each masterpiece is accompanied by a brief and informative text, while an essay recounts the challenges and excitement of forming a storied collection. The next best thing to viewing such marvelous art in person, this book offers pleasure on every page.

Genres: Art

192 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 2011

Reviews

[Patrick Sherriff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some really great paintings from the giants of French impressionism. The edition I have is in Japanese and English. All the reproductions have a detail blown up to fill the adjacent page so you can almost smell the paint and feel the brushstrokes. The text features quite a bit of background on the collectors and much less on the painters, but that's fine. You can skip the words and just savour the pictures if you want.

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[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. All too often art history books are ridiculously dry. Loved it.