Art & Design
Impressionism Quiz
Monet, Renoir, and the revolution of light — the Impressionists who broke the rules
Monet, Renoir, and the revolution of light — the Impressionists who broke the rules
The 1874 Impressionist exhibition was derided by critics — the term 'Impressionism' was literally coined as an insult. From the studios of Paris to the gardens of Giverny, this small group of painters rejected academic tradition, embraced plein air painting, and forever changed the way light, color, and modern life appeared on canvas. This quiz spans the artists, paintings, exhibitions, and innovations that defined the movement.
Each round presents 10 randomized questions from a pool of 50, with four multiple-choice options and instant feedback after every answer. Your final score comes with a performance tier and shareable results.
You'll explore the eight Impressionist exhibitions, key works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Pissarro, Sisley, Cassatt, and Morisot, the Salon des Refusés, the influence of Japonisme and ukiyo-e prints, technical innovations like collapsible paint tubes and synthetic pigments, and the bridge to Post-Impressionism through Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Seurat.
The first Impressionist exhibition opened on April 15, 1874, in Paris at the former studio of photographer Nadar on the Boulevard des Capucines. The group held eight exhibitions in total between 1874 and 1886.
The collapsible metal paint tube, patented in 1841, freed painters from the studio and made plein air painting practical. Combined with new synthetic pigments like cerulean blue, cadmium yellow, and viridian, it enabled the Impressionists' bright, on-the-spot studies of light.
Berthe Morisot was the first woman to join the group, exhibiting in 1874 and in seven of the eight Impressionist exhibitions. American painter Mary Cassatt, brought into the circle by Degas, became the second prominent female Impressionist, especially celebrated for her tender mother-and-child scenes.
Last updated: April 2026