The term 'impressionism' was first used to describe a style of painting in the late 1800s. This new style was characterized by its focus on capturing light and color in a way that was different from the traditional approach. The word 'impressionism' comes from the French word for 'impression', which is what these artists were trying to create - an impression of a scene, rather than a realistic portrayal.
Some of the most famous impressionist painters include Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Camille Pissarro. They would often paint outdoors, using natural light to capture the colors and mood of their surroundings. This led to some criticism at the time, with some people calling it 'slapdash' painting. But despite this, impressionism went on to become one of the most popular styles of painting, and its influence can still be seen in today's art.