
Impressionism and French Modernism
The display features a selection of paintings by Impressionist artists from Monet to Morisot, as well as later works by Gauguin, Cézanne and Van Gogh.
Paris was the centre of the art world in the late 19th century. The more progressive artists were interested in recording the fleeting sensations of nature, as well as the fast pace of modern life. Edgar Degas, for example, focused on figures in motion, such as racehorses, or the dancers at the Paris Opera. Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, Berthe Morisot and others preferred to work out of doors, capturing the changing effects of light and weather. Morisot, however, was limited to domestic subjects, reflecting the restrictions on women of her social status.
From 1874 until 1886 the French Impressionists staged their own independent exhibitions. They influenced artists such as John Singer Sargent who applied the impressionist approach to portraiture. By the late 1880s the group began to disperse, thanks to the impact of new artistic movements. Artists such as Henri Martin and Paul Gauguin began to paint from the imagination, while Cézanne adopted a more analytical approach to landscape. Vincent van Gogh, meanwhile, developed an expressive technique derived from Neo-Impressionism, whereby the paint was applied using dots or strokes of colour.
Location
Gallery facilities
Detailed information on accessibility at the National Galleries of Scotland
We are currently working on improving our galleries. During this time some rooms will be closed and some facilities will be temporarily removed. There will be limited disabled access to some areas.
There is limited on street parking close by including for those with a blue badge.
Getting here
The Scottish National Gallery can be found just off Princes Street in the city centre.
- Open daily, 10am–5pm
Our Friends
Friends of the Galleries get free unlimited entry to all exhibitions, and enjoy a wide range of exclusive benefits including early exhibition access, special events and 10% discount in our cafes.
What's on
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