Which painting gave Impressionism its name?

Impression, Sunrise gave Impressionism its name. Claude Monet painted the work in 1872, depicting the port of Le Havre in Normandy, France, where he grew up. Its hazy atmosphere, loose brushwork, and emphasis on fleeting light became closely associated with the emerging movement.

The painting was shown at the first independent exhibition organized by the Impressionists in Paris in April 1874. Critic Louis Leroy used the word “Impressionism” in a satirical review of the exhibition, taking the title of Monet’s painting as a label for the group’s unconventional style. The term was initially dismissive but was soon adopted by the artists and their supporters.

A common mix-up is the painting’s date: it was created in 1872 but exhibited in 1874. The work is also sometimes identified by its French title, Impression, soleil levant. It is now associated with the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris.