What is Post-Impressionism?

Everyone knows Van Gogh—you’ve probably seen Starry Night a hundred times. But do you know what kind of art he made? It wasn’t Impressionism, but something that came after: Post-Impressionism.

Painters in this movement didn’t just try to capture what they saw—they wanted to express what they felt. Artists shattered tradition, exploded with color, and turned paint into pure emotion.

As Van Gogh himself said, 

"Instead of trying to reproduce exactly what I have before my eyes, I use color more arbitrarily so as to express myself forcibly." 

Impressionism captured fleeting moments of light and color, using quick, loose brushstrokes. But Post-Impressionists wanted more. That’s what made Post-Impressionism so powerful.

By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly what Post-Impressionism is, how it changed the art world, and why it still inspires artists today.

Key Takeaways

• Post-Impressionism came after Impressionism and focused on emotion and personal expression.

• Artists used bold colors, thick brushstrokes, and symbolic meaning in their work.

• Unlike Impressionists, they cared less about realism and more about how art felt.

• Famous Post-Impressionists include Van Gogh, Cézanne, Gauguin, and Seurat.

• The movement influenced Cubism, Expressionism, and modern art.

What is Post-Impressionism?

Post-Impressionism is an art movement that came after Impressionism, around the late 19th to early 20th century. While Impressionist painters focused on capturing light and everyday moments, Post-Impressionist artists wanted to go deeper. They used bold colors, strong shapes, and personal emotions to create art that wasn’t just about what they saw—but what they felt.

How is Post-Impressionism Different from Impressionism?

At first glance, Post-Impressionist paintings might look similar to Impressionist art. Both use bright colors and visible brushstrokes. But there are some key differences.

1. More Structure 

Impressionist paintings often look loose and spontaneous, while Post-Impressionists gave their work more form and stability. 

2. More Emotion

Instead of just painting the world as it appeared, Post-Impressionists added their own feelings and moods to their art.

3. More Symbolism 

Impressionist paintings often look loose and spontaneous, while Post-Impressionists gave their work more form and stability.

Many Post-Impressionist artists used shapes and colors to represent deeper meanings rather than just reality.

When Did Post-Impressionism Begin?

The movement started in the late 1880s, when artists like Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, and Paul Gauguin wanted to move beyond Impressionism. It continued into the early 1900s, influencing later art movements like Cubism and Expressionism.

Post-Impressionism wasn’t just one style—it was a mix of different approaches, all pushing the boundaries of what art could be.

5 Key Characteristics of Post-Impressionist Art

Post-Impressionist artists didn’t just want to capture a scene—they wanted to make you feel something. They experimented with color, form, and technique to create art that was more personal and expressive. Here’s what made their work stand out.

• Bright, Bold Colors

Post-Impressionist artists didn’t stick to realistic colors. They used strong, unnatural shades to express emotions. A tree didn’t have to be green—it could be blue or red if it helped show the artist’s feelings. Van Gogh’s Starry Night is a great example, with its swirling blue sky and glowing yellow stars.

• Thick, Textured Brushstrokes

Instead of soft, delicate brushwork, Post-Impressionists applied thick layers of paint in visible strokes. This technique, called impasto, made the paintings feel more alive and full of movement. Van Gogh often used this style to create a sense of energy and emotion in his work.

• Expressing Feelings, Not Just Looks

While Impressionists painted what they saw, Post-Impressionists painted what they felt. Their work wasn’t just about capturing a moment—it was about telling a story or sharing an emotion. This is why many Post-Impressionist painting styles have a dreamlike or exaggerated quality.

• Less Focus on Real Life

Post-Impressionists moved away from realistic depictions of the world. Instead, they simplified shapes, exaggerated details, and used colors symbolically. Paul Cézanne, for example, broke objects down into basic geometric shapes, an approach also seen in geometric art, influencing the later Cubist movement. 

• More Personal and Symbolic Art

Many Post-Impressionists wanted their paintings to have deeper meanings. They weren’t just painting landscapes or portraits—they were using their art to express ideas, beliefs, or personal struggles. Paul Gauguin, for example, used bright, unnatural colors and mysterious symbols in his paintings to represent emotions and spiritual themes.

8 Famous Post-Impressionist Artworks

Post-Impressionism gave the world some of the most recognizable and influential paintings. These works didn’t just capture what the artists saw—they reflected their emotions, ideas, and unique artistic styles.

Vincent van Gogh – Starry Night (1889)

One of the most famous paintings in history, Starry Night was created while Van Gogh was in a mental hospital in France. The swirling sky, glowing stars, and bold colors reflect his inner emotions rather than reality. 

The movement in the sky and the deep blues and yellows create a dreamlike, almost restless feeling. It’s a perfect example of how Post-Impressionists used color and brushstrokes to express emotion.

Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers (1888-1889)

Van Gogh painted multiple versions of Sunflowers, using bright yellows and thick brushstrokes to bring the flowers to life. He saw sunflowers as a symbol of happiness, warmth, and friendship, but also of the fleeting nature of life. 

The texture of the oil paint makes the flowers almost jump off the canvas. It shows his energetic and expressive style.

Paul Cézanne – Mont Sainte-Victoire (1885-1906)

Cézanne painted the Mont Sainte-Victoire mountain many times. He experimented with shapes, colors, and perspective. Instead of capturing a realistic landscape, he broke it down into blocks of color and geometric forms. 

This is which made his work an early influence on Cubism. His method of building up scenes with brushstrokes gave his paintings a solid, structured look.

Paul Cézanne – The Card Players (1890-1895)

This series of paintings shows men quietly playing cards, a scene of everyday life. Unlike the loose, flowing style of Impressionism, Cézanne’s figures look structured and almost sculpted. 

This oil painting has bold, earthy colors. He was interested in capturing balance and form rather than movement or light, which makes his work feel timeless and still.

Paul Gauguin – Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? (1897-1898)

Gauguin painted this large, mysterious work while living in Tahiti. It’s filled with symbolism about life, death, and spirituality. The bright, unnatural colors and simplified forms give it a dreamlike quality. 

Gauguin believed in painting from imagination rather than direct observation, and this piece reflects his desire to move away from Western artistic traditions.

Georges Seurat – A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (1884-1886)

Seurat’s most famous painting is made up of tiny dots of color, a technique called Pointillism. Up close, you see only dots, but from a distance, the colors blend together. 

The painting captures a peaceful scene of people relaxing by the river. However the careful placement of shapes and colors gives it a formal, almost frozen feel. Unlike Impressionists, who painted quickly, Seurat spent two years carefully planning and executing this masterpiece.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec – At the Moulin Rouge (1892-1895)

Toulouse-Lautrec painted the exciting nightlife of Paris, and At the Moulin Rouge is one of his best-known works. It shows a lively yet somewhat eerie scene inside a famous cabaret. 

He used bold colors, unusual angles, and exaggerated facial expressions to capture the energy and atmosphere of Parisian nightlife. His work also had a strong influence on modern poster art.

Édouard Vuillard – The Salon of Madame Aron (1897)

Vuillard, part of the Nabis group of Post-Impressionists, painted intimate indoor scenes filled with patterns and textures. The Salon of Madame Aron is a detailed, cozy interior with figures almost blending into their surroundings. 

Instead of using perspective realistically, Vuillard focused on flat patterns and rich colors. That creates a decorative, almost tapestry-like effect.

These paintings pushed the boundaries of traditional art. It also inspired future movements like Cubism, Expressionism, and Abstract art. Each artist had a unique approach, but they all shared a desire to go beyond Impressionism and create something more expressive and meaningful.

How Post-Impressionism Influenced Modern Art

Post-Impressionism played a major role in shaping modern art. It led to new movements like Expressionism, Cubism, and Fauvism. These artists focused on emotion, abstraction, and bold color choices rather than realism.

Many famous artists were inspired by Post-Impressionism. Pablo Picasso used Cézanne’s geometric shapes to develop Cubism. At that time Henri Matisse and the Fauves adopted Van Gogh and Gauguin’s use of vivid, unnatural colors. Expressionist painters also drew from Van Gogh’s emotional brushwork to create powerful, dramatic images.

The impact of Post-Impressionism is still seen in contemporary art today. Its emphasis on personal expression, bold techniques, and breaking traditional rules paved the way for abstract and modern art movements that continue to evolve.

Conclusion

Post-Impressionism was a turning point in art history, pushing beyond Impressionism to explore emotion, symbolism, and bold artistic expression. Artists like Van Gogh, Cézanne, Gauguin, and Seurat redefined how color, brushstrokes, and form could be used. This influenced movements like Cubism, Expressionism, and modern abstract art.

As Paul Gauguin once said, 

"I shut my eyes in order to see." 

This captures the essence of Post-Impressionism—art wasn’t just about what the eye could see, but what the heart and mind could feel.

Next time you see a painting filled with bold colors and wild brushstrokes, ask yourself—what is the artist trying to make you feel? That’s the heart of Post-Impressionism, and it’s still alive today. Their daring use of color and unique styles can be seen in everything from contemporary paintings to digital art.

If you want to experience the power of Post-Impressionism, visit an art museum or explore famous works online. Seeing these paintings up close will help you appreciate the creativity and vision that changed the art world forever.