Impressionist artists were primarily inspired to paint in plein air (outdoors) due to the easier transport of paints in tubes. This innovation allowed artists to paint directly from their environment, capturing the effects of natural light and atmosphere more effectively. The ability to work outdoors made it possible to observe and depict real-time changes in color and light, a hallmark of Impressionism. This method stood in contrast to the studio practices of earlier art movements.
While other factors, such as the rise of open art classes, may have contributed to the shift in artistic practices, the portable paint tubes were a significant catalyst for the plein air technique that defined Impressionism.
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