Impressionism is defined by which characteristic?

• A. Accurate depiction of natural light, thin brushstrokes, and no color mixing
• B. Dark, heavy palette and thick impasto
• C. Highly detailed, photo-realistic rendering
• D. Use of all primary colors exclusively

Answer: (A)

Impressionism centers on how light changes what we see and the momentary feel of a scene. Artists sought to capture the fleeting effects of natural light, often painting outdoors and using quick, visible brushstrokes to convey movement and atmosphere. they typically placed colors in near-pure, unblended patches so the eye mixes them from a distance, keeping the paint bright and luminous rather than muddy. This approach—accurate light perception, light, airy brushwork, and unblended color patches—best describes the impressionist goal.

The other descriptions point to different approaches: a dark, heavy palette with thick texture isn’t characteristic of Impressionism, which favors lighter tones and a lighter touch; highly detailed, photo-realistic rendering runs counter to the loose, perceptual focus of Impressionism; and relying only on primary colors ignores the broader, nuanced palette artists used to render light and shadow.