Why did Impressionism cause controversy?

Answer 1

Impressionism was considered revolutionary because the European Academies of the mid to late 19th century were still training artists in the Academic style which depicted landscapes and people in a realist style. The French Impressionists chose a more relaxed style with thicker paint (impasto) and a brighter pallet. The result was more distinct and artistic as opposed to the mundane repetitious images being pumped out by Academic artists.

Answer 2

The impressionist movement was important because it broke awa from the traditional art making conventions of the time which were that art was to depict beautiful acceptable/biblical scenes and the technique use to paint it was to be refined and flawless. The impressionists moved past these unspoken 'laws' broadening the scope of art allowing it to go from a realistic depiction of a scene as seen by a viewer to what the artis sees and feel. They allowed the post impressionist movement to occur and heavily influenced Van Goghs practice.

Answer 3

Every new kind of art (including music and literature) has always caused controversy, since the public are unused to the new.