[Impressionism] A Curated Selection of Colorful Piano Masterpieces — Debussy & Ravel

The Impressionists were an artistic movement that emerged in Paris, France, in the late 19th century.

The shift from an era that valued realism—faithfully reproducing what was seen—to one that sought freer modes of expression had a profound impact on the history of classical music.

Among those who left their mark for posterity as representative composers of Impressionism were Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel.

In this feature, we spotlight these two great composers, along with several 19th-century composers said to have been influenced by Impressionism, and introduce masterpieces that embody Impressionism’s emphasis on light and color.