Impressionism, a historical reconstruction
5th impressionist exposition 1880
Overview used techniques
Which techniques were used in 1880?
Which techniques or media were used at the 5th ‘impressionist’ exposition in 1880?
In 1880 19 partakers exhibiting about 309 art-works. See also the link for a slideshow.
Here below is indicated which techniques were used and an overview is rendered.
Most art-works exhibited were oil paintings. Probably 160, of the exhibited art-works were oil paintings, this is just about 51,8% of the total amount of about 309 art-works. Jean-François Raffaëlli, Guillaumin and Tillot showed each more than 20 oil paintings.
Note: I count the painting on cement (no.136) of Pissarro as an oil painting. It is uncertain which techniques Jean-François Raffaëlli used for his 3 works exhibited outside the catalogue, but I will count them as oil paintings. I assume the studies and sketches of Tillot were made of oil, but this could easily be otherwise (no.204+205). I assume hc1 of Degas was an oil painting.
Many (8) partakers exhibited engravings: Félix Bracquemond maybe 25x (no.5); Cassatt 10x (nos.25-32); Degas maybe 8x (no44); Forain 2x (no.53+54); Levert at least 2x (no.112); Pissarro 18x (nos.139-143); Jean-François Raffaëlli at least 10x (no.164+166+167); Jean-Marius Raffaëlli 6x (no.180). So in total there were about 81 engravings exhibited, 26,2% of the total amount of art-works.
The following 4 partakers exhibited aquarelles: Morisot 4x (nos.123-126); Jean-François Raffaëlli 7x (no.147+152+158+161+168+171+179); Rouart 8x (nos.185-192); probably Forain showed 8 watercolours / gouaches instead of the 6 drawings the catalogue indicated (nos.47-52); note: no.52 probably contained at least 3 works. So in total there were probably 27 aquarelles exhibited, about 8,7% of the total amount of art-works.
The following 4 partakers exhibited pastels: Caillebotte 3x (no.14-16); Guillaumin 4x (nos.81-84); Jean-François Raffaëlli 3x (no.153+159+165); the catalogue indicated that Degas showed 3 pastels (nos.38+39+40); but probably no.41 also was a pastel and (1 or) 2 of the drawings (no.43) and hc3; so maybe Degas exhibited 7 pastels. So in total there were probably 17 pastels exhibited, about 5,5% of the total amount of art-works.
The following 4 partakers exhibited drawings: Lebourg 10x (nos.95-104); Jean-François Raffaëlli 1x (no.175); the catalogue doesn’t render a technique for no.4 of Félix Bracquemond, but reviews indicate it was a drawing (note: there are also etchings of this portrait); of no.42+43 of Degas each contained at least 2 ‘dessins’, but as reviews noted probably (1 or) 2 of them were pastels, so I assume Degas showed 2 drawings. So in total there were probably 14 drawings exhibited, about 4,5% of the total amount of art-works.
Note: probably the drawings of Forain were watercolours or gouaches so I won’t count them here (nos.47-52).
The following 2 partakers exhibited art-works using mixed techniques: no. hc2 of Degas probably was made of pastel and tempera; Jean-François Raffaëlli used a mix of aquarelle and pastel 2x (no.155+157). So in total there were probably 3 art-works exhibited made with mixed techniques, about 1% of the total amount of art-works.
Gauguin showed a marble bust (no.62) and was the only one who showed a sculpture, because Degas didn’t show his little his dancer (no.34). So in total there was just 1 sculpture exhibited, less than 1% of the total amount of art-works.
The following partakers exhibited fans: Morisot 1x (no.127); Pissarro 1x (no.138); Zandomeneghi 4x (nos.229-232). So in total there were 6 fans exhibited, about 2% of the total amount of art-works.
Some of the above mentioned art-works can also be seen as applied art. This includes the above mentioned fans. Félix Bracquemond showed engravings for the decoration of earthenware and porcelain services (no.5), it maybe contained 25 etchings. Probably some ‘dessins’ of Forain were aquarelle bookillustrations (attributed to no.52).
Overview:
Here below you will find an overview. You will see that just 51,8% of the art-works were oil paintings (=oil). In 1880 far out the most engravings (=engr) were shown (26,2%), namely by Félix Bracquemond and Camille Pissarro. Other techniques that were exhibited were aquarelles (=aqua) (8,7%), pastels (=p) 5,5%, drawings (=dr) 4,5%, mixed techniques 1%, fans 1,9% and 1 sculpture (=sc). Jean-François Raffaëlli showed far out the most art-works (about 46) using various techniques. Guillaumin and Tillot showed many oil paintings. Lebourg again showed many drawings. In total there were 19 partakers showing 309 art-works. See links for general info, the catalogue and a slideshow.
Explanation:
(obvious) high number.
(obvious) low number.
Recommanded citation: “Impressionism: Overview used techniques at the 5th ‘impressionist’ exposition in 1880. Last modified 2026/04/06. https://www.impressionism.nl/5th-impressionist-exposition-techniques/”
Note: maybe corrections will be added in the future.