Looking slowly at an Impressionist painting might at first seem counterintuitive, since one of the concepts associated with Impressionism is that the artist captures quickly in paint a fleeting, fugitive moment. However, although their works frequently appear to have been painted speedily, in reality, this was not always the case. Impressionists’ paintings were often the result of careful observation and planning and they invite us to dwell on and enjoy the evocation of a transitory effect.

Looking closely at an Impressionist painting is to savour a moment, which in lived existence might pass unnoticed. And to appreciate a painting in this way, we need to look slowly. Touches of paint, punctuations of colour and varied textures come alive with sustained looking. This presentation looks at a small selection of works in order to experience Impressionism with particular attention to the innovations of the style while developing visual analysis skills.