ə̇mˈpreshəˌnizəm noun
( -s )
Etymology: French impressionnisme, from impression + -isme -ism
1.
a. often capitalized : a theory or practice in painting especially among French painters of about 1870 of depicting the natural appearances of objects by means of dabs or strokes of primary unmixed colors in order to simulate actual reflected light, the subject matter being generally outdoor scenes painted directly — often contrasted with expressionism ; compare luminism , neo-impressionism , plein air , postimpressionism
b. : a rough modeling or texturing of a surface in sculpture to produce a shimmering or scintillating effect
2.
a. : the depiction of scene, emotion, or character (as in literature) by the use of detail that is sometimes brief and essential but often of great intricacy and elaborateness and that is intended to achieve a vividness, colorfulness, or effectiveness more by evoking subjective and sensory impressions (as of mood and atmosphere) than by re-creating or representing an objective reality
b. : a style of musical composition designed to create vague impressions and moods through rich and varied harmonies and timbres — often contrasted with expressionism
c. : the creation of the impression of a scene or its mood or atmosphere in a drama by the use of undramatic dialogue or nonobjective or symbolic scenery
d. : the creating of a general impression in a movie by the use of a series of shots that have no immediate logical or narrative connection
3.
a.
(1) : a practice in especially literary criticism of presenting and elaborating one's subjective reactions to a work of art
(2) : a critical theory that advocates or defends such a practice as the only valid one in criticism
b. : a vague and subjective response (as to a work of art)
her attack is almost always human, rather critical, highly personal, degenerating occasionally into vague impressionism — Mark Schorer