Following the beloved Impressionists with their innovative use of color, light, and natural realism, a group of young painters emerged in late nineteenth century France. Through their radically independent styles and dedication to pursuing unique means of expression, the Post-Impressionists looked for new, less literal ways to depict the world, or to convey emotions and feelings. Their vivid, experimental work dramatically influenced generations of abstract artists.

The course examines the lives and works of the most important Post-Impressionist artists. Beginning with an introduction to their "movement" and comparison with Impressionism, we move to Neo-Impressionists and Pointillists Georges Seurat and Paul Signac, continuing to Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, and Henri Toulouse-Lautrec.

Ralph Pearson has taught numerous OLLI art history courses, most recently about painters of the American Revolutionary War period. As an international tour manager he spent three decades visiting and leading groups to museums, galleries and studios worldwide. Ralph earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Buffalo and his master’s at Cornell.

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