(often Impressionism) an art movement, begun in late 19th-cent. France, that tries to convey the visual effects of actual reflected light on natural usu outdoor subjects
Like many artistic movements, impressionism was named not by its exponents but by its enemies. It applies most accurately to those who, like Monet in his Impression: Sunrise, which gave rise to the name, painted mainly outdoors, and used broad-brush strokes with a disregard for conventional ‘finish’. More loosely, it has been used of writers and composers, such as Debussy, who created an analogous mood — Martin Gayford
literary depiction that seeks to convey a general subjective impression rather than a detailed re-creation of reality
a style of musical composition designed to create impressions and moods through rich and varied harmonies and tones
Impressionist adj
impressionist adj