Based on the characteristics of Impressionism and the description provided, the statement that is not a characteristic of Impressionism is:
"A famous cathedral was chosen for the subject of the painting."
While Impressionists did paint various subjects, including landscapes and urban scenes, the choice of a famous cathedral is not a defining characteristic of the Impressionist movement itself. The other characteristics mentioned (reflection of light, broken brush strokes, and complementary colors) are all indicative of Impressionist techniques and approaches.