10 Impressionist Summer Paintings

1. Claude Monet, On a Cliff at Pourville

First, this painting by Claude Monet (1840–1926) offers a magnificent view of Pourville on a sunny day. Above the cliff, he painted a couple of girls, easy to identify thanks to the red tones on their dresses and the parasol. They look at the sea where several ships float. This is one of the many paintings Monet made during his trip to the village after getting tired of the urban scenery of Dieppe. Bold strokes, typical of Impressionism, capture the feel of the wind that moves the women’s dresses and grass. The figure with the parasol reminds the viewer of another of Monet’s famous paintings: Woman with a Parasol (1875).

2. Frédéric Bazille, Summer Scene

Frédéric Bazille (1842–1870) was one of the earliest figures of Impressionism. This painting portrays a group of eight young men enjoying a summer day in the bank of the river Lez. A homoerotic atmosphere permeates the scene, accentuated by the distinct degrees of undress of the male figures. Bazille had the opportunity to paint en plein air during one of his stays at his family’s residence Domaine de Méric, in Montpellier, France. Unlike other Impressionist painters who prioritize spontaneity, Bazille worked in his studio for a good part of the painting process. Preparatory sketches survive, showing how he carefully planned the figures’ positions and poses to recall old masterpieces.

3. Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Luncheon of the Boating Party

Luncheon of the Boating Party by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919) is one of the most famous Impressionist paintings, featured in movies such as Amélie (2001). According to Duncan Phillips, the art collector who acquired it in 1923, this is “one of the greatest paintings in the world.” The scene occurs in the Maison Fournaise, a Parisian restaurant frequented by Renoir and his friends. In fact, the figures in the painting are some of those close friends. For example, the lady in the front, petting the dog, was Aline Charigot, who became Renoir’s wife a decade after making this piece. Meanwhile, the man leaning on the railing is the son of the restaurant’s owner.

4. Camille Pissarro, Poplars, Éragny

Like many Impressionist artists, Camille Pissarro (1830–1903) held a fondness for the countryside. He often portrayed landscapes of his residence in Éragny, like in this scene. Pissarro was a great enthusiast of painting en plein air. According to the Met Museum, the poplars on the canvas were Pissarro’s view from his studio. Unfortunately, sight problems prevented him from spending much time outside his home. He beautifully captured the light passing through the foliage of the trees and grass that cover most of the canvas, rendering different tones of green, yellow, and brown.

5. Pál Szinyei Merse, Meadow with Poppies

Impressionism is an art movement mostly associated with France; however, it had a global reach. Pál Szinyei Merse (1845–1920) was a Hungarian artist whose work has been associated with Impressionism. This painting owes its vibrancy to the combination of complementary colors: the bright red poppies and the green grass. Furthermore, the deep blue scattered in the field offers pops of color that balance the composition. Claude Monet painted a similar field in 1873. The French artist included his wife Camille and their son twice in the composition, while Szinyei Merse added a man on the left side of his painting.

6. John Singer Sargent, Lady and Child Asleep in a Punt under the Willows

This Impressionist summer scene was painted by John Singer Sargent (1856–1925) during a stay at Wargrave, England, with his friends Robert and Helen Harrison. A mother and her child enjoy an enviable afternoon, placidly resting on a boat under a willow. Sargent was one of the major representatives of Impressionism for his treatment of light. The viewer can attest to his skill when looking at the woman’s white dress and how the sunlight illuminates the fabric wherever it touches it.

7. Joaquín Sorolla, Walk on the Beach

Nothing like a walk along the beach to enjoy the summer breeze and seascape. Joaquín Sorolla (1863–1923) portrayed a couple of young women wearing elegant white dresses as they promenaded. The models for this life-size piece were the artist’s wife and daughter. Like Sargent, Sorolla is mostly praised for his treatment of light, but he also excels at giving the painting movement through the fabric that flies from their dresses and hats.

8. Joaquín Clausell, Nudes in the Breakwater

Impressionism transcended European borders. Joaquín Clausell (1866–1935) was one of the Mexican artists who adopted the characteristics of this movement. Nudes on the Breakwater presents a somewhat fantastical sunset scene with three women. The woman on the breakwater seems to be in the safest position, while another stays close by. However, the third figure is the strangest one. She lies calmly over the water, floating without worry that the force of water could drown her or push her against the breakwater. The ocean occupies most of the canvas with only a touch of oranges and yellows to make up the sun and its reflection. Clausell depicted the waves masterfully with bold strokes that translate into vigorous movement.

9. Mary Cassatt, Summertime

During the 19th century, American artists traveled to France to learn and work. Mary Cassatt (1844–1926) was one of them. She befriended Edgar Degas (1834–1917) and other Impressionists in Paris and exhibited her works with them for years. She also owned a countryside residence called Château de Beaufresne, where she painted this scene. This piece shows a couple of women on a boat looking at the ducks in the lake. Once again, water is a major component of the scene. Impressionists loved painting lakes and beaches due to the prismatic qualities of water, resulting in a range of colors when light hits it.

10. Charles Conder, A Holiday at Mentone

Australia may be entering winter right now, but we can still enjoy the country’s Impressionist summer scenes. That is the beauty of art, its capacity to transport us, in this case, to the beautiful coasts of Mentone Beach in Melbourne, Australia. Charles Conder (1868–1909), one of the leading artists of the Heidelberg School movement or Australian Impressionism, painted this scene in 1888 en plein air. The diagonal composition, marked by the division between sand and water and sky, along with the large empty spaces in the beach demonstrate the influence of Japanese art in Impressionist painting. Looking closely, it is clear this is more than just a representation of a sunny summer day. Oddly, the three figures in the foreground seem out of place, especially the man lying on the sand.

There they are, ten paintings to enjoy this Impressionist summer!