Impressionism marked a pivotal break from academic art by shifting the focus from polished historical narratives to the fleeting experience of modern life. In the late nineteenth century, painters like Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, and Degas abandoned studio conventions—careful drawing, smooth finishes, and idealized subjects—in favor of working en plein air, capturing transient light, weather, and movement with visible, rapid brushstrokes. Their fractured color, unconventional compositions, and everyday motifs defied the Salon’s rules and challenged viewers to value perception over perfection.

A special focus of the lecture will be devoted to the artistic worlds of Paul Cézanne and Edgar Degas: two painters who, each in their own way, profoundly transformed the language of modern art and paved the way for future artistic movements.

The lecture is held in English.

After the talk, there will be an opportunity to continue the discussion over drinks and fingerfood.