Impressionist paintings as documents of Paris, capital of modernity Impressionist paintings can be considered to a large extent as documents of Paris, capital of modernity. This can be seen in their subjects, their painting style, and the juxtaposition of the transitive and the eternal. The expression Paris capital of modernity refers to the time in the second half of the 19th century when Paris was considered one of the most innovative cities in the world. the world. It is largely the result of Haussmann's renovation of the city between 1851 and 1869. Prefect of Paris under Napoleon III, he transformed Paris into a city with wide streets, new shops and cafes, and a unified architecture. The city, along with other factors such as the high quality of art schools, caused the rise of Impressionism in Paris at this time (Thomson 2000: 19-20). Impressionist painters wanted to capture the present and not historical or idealistic scenes. For this reason, they painted boulevards, parks, train stations and other places important to modern Parisian life. Human figures were important subjects in their paintings, because one of the most effective ways of depicting modern life is to show the people living in it. Beyond what they painted, the Impressionists conveyed the modern city through their style of painting. They used techniques that emphasized that the scene was a specific moment. Many of their paintings were sketch-like, using fine but visible brushstrokes. They accurately depicted light and shadow, which often placed the painting at a certain time of day. They also convey a sense of movement in their paintings, particularly in human figures. These factors allow viewers to believe that the subjects of a painting with...... middle of paper ...... are considered to a large extent to be documents of Paris, the capital of modernity. Their subjects, style, and juxtaposition of the transitive and the eternal provide effective depictions of Parisian life at the time. Impressionist paintings will sit alongside written documents as archives of late 19th century Paris for years to come. Works Cited “Guide to Impressionism”. National Gallery, London. Internet. November 12, 2010. “Kimbell Art Museum.” Internet. November 12, 2010. “Nautical party luncheon. » The Phillips collection. Internet. November 12, 2010. Belinda Thomson, Impressionism. Origins, practices, reception (Thames and Hudson, 2000).