Impressionist paintings as documents of Paris as the capital of modernity Impressionist paintings can to a large extent be considered documents of Paris as the capital of modernity. This can be seen in the subjects, the painting style and the juxtaposition between the transitive and the eternal. The phrase Paris capital of modernity refers to the period in the second half of the nineteenth century when Paris was considered one of the most innovative cities in the world. the world. This was largely the result of Haussmann's renovation of the city between 1851 and 1869. Prefect of Paris under Napoleon III, he transformed Paris into a city with wide streets, new shops and cafes, and unified architecture. The city, along with other factors such as the high quality of art schools, made Impressionism take off in Paris in this period (Thomson 2000: 19-20). Impressionist painters wanted to capture the present, not historical or idealistic scenes. For this reason they painted avenues, parks, train stations and other places important to modern Parisian life. Human figures were important subjects in their paintings, as one of the most effective ways to depict modern life is to show the people living it. In addition to what they painted, the Impressionists conveyed the modern city through their painting style. They used techniques that emphasized that the scene represented a moment in time. Many of their paintings were sketch-like, using thin but visible brushstrokes. They accurately depicted light and shadow, which often set the painting at a certain time of day. Furthermore, they conveyed a sense of movement in their paintings, especially in human figures. These factors allow viewers to believe that the subjects of a painting...... at the center of paper...... are largely considered documents of Paris, the capital of modernity. The subjects, style, and juxtaposition of the transitive and the eternal provide effective representations of Parisian life at the time. Impressionist paintings will remain alongside written documents as documents of late nineteenth-century Paris for years to come. Works Cited "Guide to Impressionism". National Gallery, London. Network. November 12, 2010. "Kimbell Museum of Art." Network. 12 November 2010. "Rowers' festival lunch". The Phillips Collection. Network. 12 November 2010. .Belinda Thomson, Impressionism. Origins, practice, reception (Thames and Hudson, 2000).