Impressionism, a historical reconstruction
8th impressionist exposition 1886
Overview used techniques
Which techniques were used in 1886?
Which techniques or media were used at the 8th ‘impressionist’ exposition in 1886?
18 partakers exhibiting about 301 works (see slideshow).
Probably 153 of the exhibited art-works at the 8th ‘impressionist’ exposition were oil paintings, this is about 50% of the total amount of 301 art-works. So just about half of the exhibited art-works.
Note: I also count the grisaille study of Forain (catalogue no.39) as an oil painting.
Many (8) partakers exhibited pastels: Cassatt 1x (no.13); Degas 15x! (nos.14-28; note: maybe Degas exhibited just 10 pastels); probably no.33 of Forain was a pastel though not indicated in the catalogue; Guillaumin 4x (nos.78-81); maybe Morisot exhibited pastels though this was not indicated in the catalogue, probably 86 + 91 (and maybe 90, but this one I won’t count); Camille Pissarro 7x (no.107+108); Schuffenecker 1x (no.174); Zandomeneghi 8x (nos.239-246). So in total there were 39 pastels exhibited, about 13% of the total amount of art-works.
Many (7) partakers exhibited drawings: Marie Bracquemond 1x (no.1); Forain 1x (no.40; but maybe he used mixed techniques); Morisot exhibited a serie of at least 2, but I assume 6 drawings (no.92); Redon 15x!, though this was not indicated in the catalogue (nos124-138) Seurat 3x (no.181-183); Signac 3x (no.199-201); no.217 of Tillot contained a collection of studies with Chinese ink; at least 2, maybe more. So in total there were probably 31 drawings exhibited, about 10% of the total amount of art-works.
The following 5 partakers exhibited aquarelles (and gouaches): Marie Bracquemond 2x (catalogue no.5+6); Morisot exhibited a serie of at least 2, but I assume 6 aquarelles (no.93). Camille Pissarro exhibited 3 gouaches (no.103-105; note I won’t count no.106 the gouache fan). Lucien Pissarro exhibited at least 13! watercolours (no.116-118); Rouart 23! (nos-143-165). So in total there were 47 aquarelles exhibited, about 15,6% of the total amount of art-works. Note: maybe no.34 of Forain was a watercolour, but this was not indicated in the catalogue and I assume it wasn’t.
The following 2 partakers exhibited engravings: Camille Pissarro exhibited 8 etchings (no.109-113); Lucien Pissarro exhibited 14! woodcut engravings (no.122+123). So in total there were 22 engravings exhibited, about 7,3% of the total amount of art-works.
Morisot exhibited a serie of at least 2, but I assume 6 fans (no.94); Camille Pissarro exhibited 1 (no.106); probably Redon also exhibited a fan outside the catalogue (=hc). So in total there were 8 fans exhibited, about 3% of the total amount of art-works.
Gauguin exhibited 1 sculpture outside the catalogue. This is less than 1% of the total amount of art-works.
In no.40 Forain maybe used mixed techniques, but I follow the indication of the catalogue that it was a drawing.
Some of the above mentioned art-works can also be seen as applied art. This applies to the above mentioned fans. And also to the aquarelles (no.116) and woodcut engravings (no.122) of Lucien Pissarro that were bookillustrations.
Overview:
Here below you will find an overview. You will see that just 50,8% of the art-works were oil paintings (=oil). Many aquarelles (=aqua) were shown (15,6%), many pastels (=p) (13%) and many drawings (=dr) (10,3%). 7,3% were engravings (=engr). There also were 8 fans and 1 sculpture exhibited. Lucien Pissarro showed the most art-works, about 32, namely wood cuts and aquarelles. Morisot (29) and Camille Pissarro (28) both using various techniques. Rouart showed many (23) aquarelles, Degas many (15) pastels and Redon many (15) drawings. Gauguin (19), Vignon (18), Guillaumin (17), Tillot (16) and Signac (15) showed many oil paintings. In total there were 18 partakers showing 301 art-works. Comtesse de Rambure exhibited without being in the catalogue (=hc). 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 8th ‘impressionist’ exposition in 1886. Last modified 2026/04/06. https://www.impressionism.nl/8th-impressionist-exposition-techniques/”
Note: maybe corrections will be added in the future.