he Art Institute of Chicago has one of the largest and finest holdings of late 19th-century French art in the world. This lavishly illustrated book features over ninety paintings—nearly the entire collection—engagingly discussed in terms of the context in which so much memorable art was produced. It offers a fascinating overview of the Impressionist movement and its legacy, drawing upon the latest art-historical findings.

The volume explores works by artists who sought official sanction by the French Academy, from Manet—notorious for his bold and direct style—to Boudin and Jongkind, who are known for their light effects and deft brushwork. Paintings by Caillebotte, Degas, Monet, Pissarro, and Sisley offer insight on such topics as contemporary life, the changing quality of light, and painting outdoors. Another section examines the works of artists who were influenced by Impressionism and compelled to explore new avenues of expression, including those of Cézanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Seurat, and Toulouse-Lautrec.

Each image, handsomely reproduced, exemplifies the diversity of ideas and extraordinary wealth of talent at work in late 19th-century France. A fascinating illustrated chronology of the formation of this world-renowned collection is also included.