简介：GangofFour Episode1of4 Duration:1hour ArtwriterWaldemarJanuszczakexplorestherevolutionaryachievementsoftheImpressionists.Inthefirstepisode,WaldemardelvesintothebackstoriesoffourofthemostinfluentialImpressionists-Pissarro,Monet,RenoirandBazille-whotogetherlaidthefoundationsoftheartisticmovement.Hefindsoutwhatsocialandculturalinfluencesdrovethemtotheirstyleofpainting,howtheywereunitedandhowultimatelytheychallengedandchangedartforever. WaldemarjourneysfromtheshoresoftheWestIndies,totheprogressivecityofParistothesuburbsofSouthLondon,wherethesefourartistsdrewinspirationfromthecitiesandtownsinwhichtheylived.WhetheritbetheinfamousspotontheriverSeine-LaGrenouillere-whereMonetandRenoirbeautifullycapturedanimatedpeople,iridescentlightandundulatingwaterortheminimalist,non-sensationalisedillustrationsofPissarro'scoarsecountrysidepaintings,WaldemardiscovershowtheImpressionistsbrokeconventionsbydepictingeverydayencounterswithintheunpredictableandeverchangingsightsaroundthem. ------ Paintingoutdoors Episode2of4 Duration:1hour WaldemarJanuszczakcontinueshisinvestigationoftheImpressionistsbytakingusoutdoorstotheirmostfamouslocations.AlthoughImpressionistpicturesoftenlooksunnyandrelaxed,achievingthispeacefulairwashardwork.Trudgingthroughfog,windandrain,acrosstreacherouscoastalrocksandknee-deepsnow,WaldemarshowshowthefamousspontaneityoftheImpressionistsisthoroughlymisleading. ThisepisodevisitstheFrenchriversidelocationsthatMonetlovedtopaint,andwhereRenoircapturedthebonhomieofmodernlife.WaldemaralsointroducesanumberoftechnicalandpracticaldevelopmentsoftheagewhichcompletelyrevolutionisedImpressionistpainting-theinventionofportableeasels;theuseofhog'shairinpaintbrushes;aswellastheintroductionoftherailwaythroughFrance.AndascientificdemonstrationinaSwedishsnowdriftexplainsjusthowrighttheImpressionistsweretopaintbrightlycolouredshadowsintheirwinterscenes,despitebeingaccusedof'hallucinating'atthetime. Finally,JanuszczakexplainsCezanne'spartintheImpressioniststoryfromhisdarkandchallengingearlyworktohisfirstrurallandscapesinFrance,andthenhisdeparturefromParisandseparationfromtheImpressionistgang. ------ PaintingthePeople Episode3of4 Duration:1hour WaldemarJanuszczakcontinueshisinvestigationoftheImpressionists,focusingthistimeonthepeopletheypaintedandinparticularthesubjectsofDegas,CaillebotteandtheoftenforgottenImpressionistwomenartists.TheImpressionistsarefamousforpaintinglandscapebuttheywerejustasdeterminedtopaintpeople. LookingcloselyatoneofImpressionism'sfinestpainters,EdgarDegas,Waldemarrevealshowheconsistentlychallengedtraditionsandstrovetorecordreallifeasitappearedinthecity,fromsculptingthecontortedmovementsofhorsesinmotionattheLongchampracecourseinParistoencapsulatingextravagant3DviewpointsoftheballetdancersattheParisOpera. WaldemaralsouncoverstheintoxicatinghazinessthepastelproducedinDegas'workwhenvisitinghissupplierPastelsdeRoche.HealsorevealstheunusualviewpointsanddramaticperspectivesofCaillebotte'spaintingsfromthePlacedeL'EuropeandtherebelliousandrevolutionaryartofMorisot,BracquemondandCassatt,threeimpressivefemaleartistswhowereeagerlyembracedbytheprogressivemovementofImpressionism ------ FinalFlourish Episode4of4 Duration:1hour ThisepisodetakesacloserlookatthelateyearsofImpressionism,usingthelastshowtheseartistsdidtogetherasastartingpoint. WaldemarlooksinconsiderabledepthattheworkofGeorgesSeurat,takingintoconsiderationhisacademictrainingattheBeaux-ArtsSchoolinParisandtheartiststhatinfluencedhim,suchasPierodellaFrancescaandPuvisdeChavannes. Thereisalsoaninsightintothecomplexbutfascinatingworldofopticsandart,andthewaysinwhichtheImpressionistswereusingthenewdiscoveriesinlightandeyesighttoinfluencetheirwork.Afascinating'after-image'experimentbringstolifethewaysinwhichourowneyesseecolour,bothinitspresenceanditsabsence. VanGogh'stimeinParis,aperiodverylittleisknownabout,isalsocovered,chartingtheincrediblejourneytheartistmadefromhisbrownanddullcanvasestothesplendidcolourandlightthatpervadedhisworkonthecuspofhisdeparturefortheSouthofFrance. ThefilmfinisheswitharevisitingofMonetandhislaterwaterlilypaintingsintheOrangerieinParis.Waldemarinvestigateshowabadcaseofcataractswasresponsibleforaseismicshiftinhiscolourpaletteandhisbrushstrokes.Spendingtimewithanophthalmologist,hefindsouthowoldageandafairlycommonailmentoftheeyescausedImpressionismtoshiftandbecomeradicalagainattheturnofthecenturyandintothe20thcentury…