Impressionist works acquired blurred contours and a whiter color palette to depict pollution during the Industrial Revolution
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Image: public domain
Researchers at the Sorbonne in France and Harvard University in the US discovered how atmospheric pollution triggered stylistic changes on the paintings of great Impressionist artists, such as William Turner and Claude Monet. They analyzed 100 works by major painters.
During the Industrial Revolution, in the 19th century, his arts acquired blurry contours and a whiter color palette to depict air pollution. Research reveals a connection between art and science. The analyzes resulted in an article in the journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).
“Air pollution absorbs and scatters light, making distant objects appear blurrier. By scattering backlighting of all wavelengths across the line of sight, the presence of air pollution gives images a whiter color.” Science lives.
The discovery gives clues to the origin of Monet’s Impressionist movement. Plus, in 1900, Monet himself wrote to his wife on the subject, according to the site for arts. In the letter, he lamented the lack of fog and haze in London, which inspired his works.
What caused the pollution that inspired the paintings?
The clouds visible in the air were caused by “a combination of particulate matter emissions and a lot of moisture in these areas, which further increased this decrease in visibility,” according to Professor Maria de Fatima Andrade, of the IAG (Institute for Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences) at the University of São Paulo (University of São Paulo).
Between 1800 and 1850, the coal consumed by the United Kingdom was responsible for half of global sulfur dioxide emissions. To measure the level of air pollution in the past, scientists estimated “the amount of fuel consumed in the industrial revolution, and from the total amount of coal matter consumed, the amount of sulfur emitted” (via USP Journal).
In addition to the industrial revolution, in the Middle Ages, philosophers also recorded losses in terms of air visibility. At that time, the burning of wood and coal emitted large concentrations of particulate pollutants. On the other hand, the population already imagined that the pollution that pollutes castles and interferes with vision can be harmful to health. Surprisingly, data from the World Health Organization support this theory.
Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.