The Influence of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism on British Female Painter

In this paper, I shall explore certain characteristics of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, which encouraged women to participate in the contemporary artistic trends and to become successful as painters. After a brief introduction on the social background of the era, in the first chapter relevant qualities of Impressionism will be introduced. After the general description of the style itself and its novelty at that time― which lies in the peculiar technique and thematic choices― I will examine the reasons for which the pictorial language of Impressionism can be considered appropriate for women. One of the most challenging and thus most popular themes of the Impressionists was that of the beach. My paper explores this theme and describes its re-foundation as a modern and feminine place. The signs of this re-definition can already be traced in the painting of Manet, accordingly his painting Beach at Boulogne from 1869 will be considered. From the French representative my analysis focuses on Laura Knight’s painting, bearing the emblematic theme itself in its title, The Beach. Her Self Portrait of 1913 is an impressive indication for the signs of women’s growing consciousness of becoming artists and the changing gender roles.Bscanglisztik