Impressionistic Music

-    Fewer instruments were used in orchestral works - clearer texture - more "light".

-    Made use of the tonal colors of instruments, words, voices and particular chords.  Used particular chords, instruments, voices, words for a particular sound - because they liked it. 

-    Chords moved in parallel motion - forbidden - illegal in previous traditional harmony.

-    Rhythm more subtle and complex than previous periods of music.

-    Sometimes obscured the tonal center through the use of whole tone and pentatonic scales.  (Influence of eastern/asian music).

-    Little use of traditional forms - smaller forms.

-    Did not seek to impart any deep messages, something to be enjoyed.

Impressionistic Art

-    Capture a moment - sensation

-    No moral message

-    Nature and Painting outside

-    Often small brush strokes that "mixed" at a distance to show a shape or color.

-    Visible brush strokes

-    The subject was not the object painted but rather how it looked at a particular time.

-    Influence of Japanese painting

-    Not trying to make painting a three-dimensional art but rather allowing it to be 2-dimensional - not real.

-    Color

-    "light"