Understanding Art: Impressionism

Impressionism Enlightenment with mists and dots of humor
An entertaining docent (Waldemar Januszczak-UK critic) makes Impressionism as fun as it is beautiful. He's an expert, and he's funny. He keeps the art history and art appreciation learning understandable, on a level where you don't have to be an art elitist. Yet, as a retired art teacher, I learn things I never knew. Januszczak also wrote and directed this 2011 BBC production.

SUBTITLES available for all episodes and bonus films. Because of bonus material, this DVD set comprises 8 episodes totaling 475 min.

Four 60 min episodes on IMPRESSIONISM
~~~~1 THE GANG OF FOUR ---Monet, Renoir, Bazille, Pissarro (the glue of the style and 1st Jewish artist), London's Turner all were at the beginning of Impressionism in Paris. Besides the artists, influences were tube paint, flat brushes

~~~~2 THE GREAT OUTDOORS ---Monet and his boat studio, Renoir, Cezanne Pissarro go to the open air with the aid of hog hair brushes replacing sable. Water, weather, snow,...

Pleasing to the eye and mind
If you are not in love with art, you will be after watching this three-DVD documentary about the impressionists. The best and unifying feature of the DVDs is narrator - Waldemar Januszczak. He is sort of the John Madden of high-brow art. All the DVDs give wonderful explanations and understandings of the art world and it is Januszczak' s personality that brings it down to earth with a warm charm. He gives understanding of what the "Gang of Four" did in snubbing the art community that snubbed them. Januszczak goes from the painting, to the place it was painted, to how it was painted, and then the impact that the art or artist had in just a few minutes. The editing is brilliant with Waldemar Januszczak (WJ from now on) showing the contrasts between different artists and paintings, by stepping into frame in one museum, and then into frame in another museum. WJ is funny; sometimes in shorts and sandals. WJ gives great insight into what was going on historically and in the artist's life...

The artist behind the art
I really loved these episodes. The research done was amazing and thorough. Bringing hours and hours of work to a fun , educational , show that was just a pleasure to watch . I learned so much - this show could have been call Art Detectives, or the Artist behind the art. I think the following of an artists life with visits to the places they actually stood and painted with a mixing in of the local history of the time brought a depth of understanding. Should be required viewing for anyone planning on being an artist or in the business of art. I would give this show 10 stars if I could. Author - Creative Painting for the Young Artist.

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