Collecting 101

1.

Beauty and Light

Impressionist art is focused on beauty, and on portraying the natural world as it is, however this was not reflected in the tastes of the mid- to late 19th century. Fed up with being rejected by the establishment, as represented by the restrictive Salon system which encouraged artists to paint historical or religious subjects, the Impressionists started their own ‘Salon des Refusés’ in 1863.

The Impressionists painted what they saw, often outdoors, focusing on the fleeting qualities of light and colour held in a moment. Upon visiting an early exhibition of Claude Monet’s paintings, which included "Impression, Sunrise", the critic Louis Leroy said that all the works could be considered no more than mere ‘impressions’. This apparent slight was proudly taken up by the group which is now known as one of the most important movements in the history of Western art.

2.

Art and the Everyday

As the landscape of modern France transformed from an agrarian to an industrial society, the Impressionists embodied a shift from the sacred to the profane by choosing to portray people at all levels of society – from Edgar Degas’ young ballerinas and Pierre August Renoir’s beautiful maids or Henri Toulouse Lautrec’s café performers, to Monet’s railway workers and Gustave Caillebotte’s glamourous flâneurs. They were not without precedent however, and some argue that the realism of Courbet and Millet before them, and the turn to the natural world embodied by the Barbizon school, gave the Impressionists the courage to forge their own path.

3.

Key Figures and Works

Claude Monet’s series of views of the Gare St Lazare, his snowy scenes at Vetheuil and beautiful depictions of haystacks from the early 1890s are among some of the most important works from the movement – his fascination with portraying the effect of light on his subject at different times of day and in different weather are perhaps his most important legacy. Other touchstones include Edouard Manet’s "Olympia" and his portrait of the writer Emile Zola, as well as important works by Sisley, Renoir, Bazille, Caillebotte and of course Cézanne.

Some of the most important figures of the Impressionist movement include Degas, who made beautiful drawings in pastel; Camille Pissarro, who was influenced by the popularity of Japanese prints at the time; and Berthe Morisot, a student of Manet whose scenes of intimate homelife and maternity are gorgeous and powerfully personal.

4.

Buying and Selling

While the most famous works reach record prices at auction, it is still possible to find wonderful pieces of Impressionist Art to suit all budgets. Works on paper can be a very rewarding category for those just starting out – the most famous names can be acquired for lower prices and these pieces reflect the fact that many of these artists lavished time and attention on honing their skills at draughtsmanship. Collectors should also consider the second generation of Impressionists who produced some stellar work that is often overlooked – notable names include Gustave Loiseau, Henry Moret and Achille Lauge.

While the market is consistently strong for Impressionist Art, there are still trends that collectors should look out for – for example, museum shows on an artist or a particular aspect of a movement can have an important impact on the value of a piece. After the Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity show at the Met in 2013, works with the theme of fashion became very much in vogue and many pieces from the show, including a charming dress design by Cézanne, performed well when offered at auction.

5.

Considering an Artwork

When buying any work of art it is important to consider various factors such as subject, rarity, provenance and condition. Scale and colour palette, for example, can make a piece appealing in a gallery but could become overwhelming when placed in the home. And how will an artwork hang together with the other pieces in your collection? It is also a good idea to consider the climate and levels of sun exposure of the space in which you plan to keep the work. Being a good steward to a work of art includes knowing the condition of a work and how to conserve or improve it.

It is also critical to know the story behind the artwork – and this is where a specialist can help. They can tell you about the collection the work has come from, put the value of the artwork in context and offer market comparables to help you decide how high to bid. It can also be helpful to hear more about the artist’s reputation and to know how many people are likely to be bidding on the work, in order to set expectations about the hammer price.

For more from our global Impressionist & Modern Art team, follow @bonhams_impressionists  on Instagram.