Louis Leroy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louis Leroy
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Born | 1 January 1812 |
| Died | 1 January 1885 (aged 73) French |
| Occupation | Art critic, journalist, playwright, engraver, and painter |
| Citizenship | French |
| Notable works | Coining the term "Impressionism" |
Louis Leroy (1812 – 1885) was a French writer, artist, and journalist from the 1800s. He is best known for accidentally naming one of the most famous art movements in history: Impressionism.
Contents
Who Was Louis Leroy?
Louis Leroy worked as an art critic and journalist for a French newspaper called Le Charivari. This newspaper was known for being satirical, which means it used humor and exaggeration to make fun of things.
Leroy became famous because he wrote a funny, critical review of an art show. In this review, he used the word "Impressionists" to make fun of the artists. But the artists liked the name, and it stuck!
How Impressionism Got Its Name
In 1874, a group of artists held their own art show in Paris. They called themselves the Société anonyme des peintres, sculpteurs et graveurs (which means "Anonymous society of painters, sculptors, and engravers"). This show was held in the studio of a photographer named Nadar.
Some of the famous artists in this group included Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, and Camille Pissarro.
The Famous Art Review
Louis Leroy visited this art show. He was not very impressed with the paintings. On April 25, 1874, his review was printed in Le Charivari. The title was The Exhibition of the Impressionists.
Leroy's article was written like a conversation between two people who were looking at the art. They were quite critical.
One part of the review talked about Claude Monet's painting called Impression: soleil levant. Leroy wrote:
"Impression I was certain of it. I was just telling myself that, since I was impressed, there had to be some impression in it — and what freedom, what ease of workmanship! A preliminary drawing for a wallpaper pattern is more finished than this seascape."
This quote shows that Leroy thought the painting looked unfinished, like a quick sketch for wallpaper, not a complete work of art.
From Insult to Art Movement
Even though Leroy meant the term "Impressionists" as an insult, the artists themselves decided to adopt it. They liked the name because their paintings often focused on capturing a quick "impression" of a scene, especially how light looked at different times of day.
Over time, this group of artists and their unique style became known as the Impressionist movement. It grew to be one of the most important and influential art movements in history. So, thanks to Louis Leroy's critical review, we have the name for this beautiful style of art!
