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Impressionism Impressionism is a detailed form of painting showing the effects of light and shadow on people and objects. Impressionist painters often portray real life themes in their paintings. "Nearly all the Impressionist artists painted people hurrying through busy streets and enjoying their leisure time on the boulevard, at the racetrack, in café-concerts, shops, restaurants, and parks" (16 Sep 2003 www.impressionism.org) Impressionist paintings often show the effect of people in their normal environment, instead of staged or forced settings. They often show people in the middle of a task such as playing an instrument or kneading dough. Many impressionist paintings have a style of rapid brushstrokes because these paintings are often made outside. The artist needs to work fast to capture the scene before the weather changes or the