Evolution and Expansion

Following the 1874 exhibition, the Impressionists organized seven more group shows over the next twelve years, though not all the original members participated in every exhibition. These shows charted the evolution of the movement as different artists pursued their individual visions while maintaining shared principles.

Monet's work from this period shows him pushing the implications of Impressionism to new extremes. His series of the Gare Saint-Lazare (1877) transformed the modern railway station into a cathedral of steam and light. These paintings, with their industrial subject matter and bold handling, demonstrated that Impressionism could find beauty in the most unlikely modern subjects.

The late 1870s saw both triumphs and tensions within the group. Renoir achieved Salon success with more conventional portraits, creating friction with those who saw this as a betrayal of their independent stance. Degas increasingly pursued his own path, focusing on artificial light and interior scenes. Cézanne, frustrated by his struggles with Impressionist technique, began developing his own approach to form and structure.