Impressionism Exhibition at LACMA

Powder blue skies fill the canvas as airy clouds drift past large poplar trees swaying romantically in the midst of a warm summer day. My eyes glide across the paintings, each one capturing my attention, creating an allure of familiarity. Impressionism sparked my interest in art, and created a lifelong passion of mine. With images of daily life transformed into delicate scenes of solitude, Impressionism felt like a dream I danced with but could not fully grasp. From Pissarro’s dreamy countryside landscapes to Renoir’s bustling café scenes and Monet’s ethereal waterlilies, the colors blended in a way that mesmerized me. No wonder I am drawn to this idealized style of art; it is nostalgic and tender. 

As I was walking through LACMA’s Impressionism exhibition, excitement washed over me in an overwhelming manner. With approximately 100 different works by 70 different artists, this exhibition was vast in size. The exhibition was versatile and catered to different tonal tastes and interests. As I took in the different paintings and their history, one caught my eye in particular, Saint Mammès Morning (1884) by Alfred Sisley. The loose strokes of paint greeted by the enchantment of daily life transcended me into a moment of serenity where I felt connected to the painting. Rolling hills coupled with people effortlessly walking by the river-bank further allude to the near perfect scene Sisley portrays. Although the painting was no more than 2 by 3 feet, I found myself tussling with the idea of what else existed past the frame and in the realm of Impressionism.