Impressionism, a historical reconstruction

6th impressionist exposition 1881

Overview used techniques

 

Which techniques were used in 1881?
Which techniques or media were used at the 6th ‘impressionist’ exposition in 1881?
In 1881 14 partakers showed about 187 art-works. See also the link to a slideshow.

Most art-works exhibited were oil paintings. I assume the studies and sketches of Tillot were made of oil, but this could easily be otherwise (no.149). Probably 123, about 66,8% of the total amount of about 187 art-works.

The following 4 partakers exhibited aquarelles: Forain 3x (nos.22-24); Guillaumin 1x (no.50); Pissarro showed 15! gouaches (nos.74-88); Raffaëlli 5x (no.106+112+116+119+121). So in total there were 24 aquarelles exhibited, about 12,8% of the total amount of art-works.

Many (7) partakers exhibited pastels: Cassatt 7x (nos.5-11); Forain 1x (no.25); Guillaumin 5x (nos.51-55); Morisot showed at least 2 pastels (no.60+61), but probably no.59 also was a pastel and probably she also showed a pastel outside the catalogue (=hc); maybe no.62 also was a pastel, but because of the uncertainty I won’t count it as such; Pissarro 2x (no.89+90); Raffaëlli probably 2x (no.103+107?). Maybe the hc1 work of Degas was a pastel, but the suggestion is uncertain, so I will count it as an oil painting; probably the numbers 17+18 were pastels. So in total there were probably 23 pastels exhibited, about 12,3% of the total amount of art-works.

Degas showed assumably 3 monotypes outside the catalogue (hc4 ‘Esquisses noire’). So there were just 3 engravings exhibited, less than 2% of the total amount of art-works.

The following 4 partakers exhibited drawings: Forain 4x (no.26-29); Raffaëlli 1x (no.120); Zandomeneghi 1x (no.169); assumably  Degas exhibited 3 drawings outside the catalogue (hc3). So in total there were 9 drawings exhibited, about 4,8% of the total amount of art-works.

Degas probably showed 1 work made with mixed techniques (hc2). The probably 3 works exhibited as hc4 ‘Esquisses noire’ probably were monotypes, so I will count them as engravings. So in total there was probably just 1 art-works exhibited made with mixed techniques, less than 1% of the total amount of art-works.

The following partakers exhibited sculptures: Degas showed his little dancer (no.12); Gauguin showed a medal and a figure out of wood (no.38+39). So in total there were 3 sculptures exhibited made with mixed techniques, less than 2% of the total amount of art-works.

Zandomeneghi also exhibited a Panel for a dining room (no.160). I will count it as an other technique. This 1 is less than 1% of the total amount of art-works.

Some of the above mentioned art-works can also be seen as applied art. The 4 drawings (no.26-29) Forain showed were maybe illustrations for newspapers and in that sense can be seen as applied art. The Panel for a dining room (no.160) by Zandomeneghi was a form of applied art.

 

Overview:
Here below you will find an overview. You will see that 65,8% of the art-works were oil paintings (=oil). Many engravings (=engr) were shown (17%). Also Many aquarelles (=aqua) (12,8%) and pastels (=p) (12,3%) were shown. Other techniques used, were drawings (=dr) 4,8%, engravings (=engr) just 1,6%. There were 3 sculptures (=sc) exhibited. There was just 1 work done with mixed techniques (=mix) and 1 classified as other techniques (=var), which also can be seen as applied art. Jean-François Raffaëlli and Camille Pissarro far out showed the most art-works, respectively 34 and 28. Pissarro also showed many (15) gouaches. Rouart (15), Vignon (15) and Tillot (13) showed many oil paintings. In total there were 14 partakers showing 186 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 6th ‘impressionist’ exposition in 1881. Last modified 2026/04/06. https://www.impressionism.nl/6th-impressionist-exposition-techniques/”

 

Note: maybe corrections will be added in the future.