Impressionism
1860–1890Painting light as it actually appears — outdoors, fleeting, broken into spectral components. The tube paint revolution enabled plein air work.
Pre-mixed tube paints. No black (Monet). Complementary colors in shadow. Broken brushwork for optical mixing.
Claude Monet
1840–1926French
Founder of Impressionism. The Water Lilies are the culmination of a 60-year pursuit of light.
Banned black from his palette. Built up thick impasto layers en plein air. Late works approach abstraction.
Further reading: Monet (Taschen Basic Art) — Christoph HeinrichWaterlily blue
The blue of water reflecting sky in Giverny.
Material: Cobalt blue, cerulean blue, lead white
RGB(75, 122, 154)
Impression sunrise
The orange sun that named the movement.
Material: Chrome orange, vermilion, cadmium yellow
RGB(216, 128, 64)
Haystack gold
Warm golden light on grain stacks.
Material: Chrome yellow, cadmium yellow, lead white
RGB(201, 160, 80)
Rouen Cathedral lilac
Cool violet shadows on stone — complementary to yellow light.
Material: Cobalt violet, ultramarine, lead white
RGB(154, 138, 170)
Lily pad green
The rich green of floating lily pads.
Material: Viridian, chrome green, cadmium yellow
RGB(74, 122, 74)
Thames morning mist
Cool blue-grey of London fog in the Thames series.
Material: Lead white, cobalt blue, lamp black
RGB(168, 168, 176)
Pigments: Cobalt blue · Cerulean blue · Lead white · Vermilion · Chrome yellow · Cadmium yellow · Ultramarine · Cobalt violet · Viridian · Chrome green · Lamp black
Related Materials
If this palette inspired you, here’s what to paint with.
Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Colour Starter Set, 10 TubesView on Amazon
Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Studio Set, 24 Whole PansView on Amazon
Moleskine Art Plus Watercolor Album, LargeView on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate, Pigmentoria earns from qualifying purchases. This page may contain affiliate links.