By the end of the 18th century, many countries were slowly transforming into industrialized places; cities were growing, industries were developing everywhere, and many technologies like steam engines were emerging. This phenomenon called the industrial revolution began in England and then spread to France and Germany. Industrialization contributed to the development of society, the economy and, at one point, art, but it also left behind a devastated society. In fact, the Industrial Revolution was a great source of inspiration for artists who lived during that era. For example, French impressionist artist Claude Monet painted La Gare de Saint-Lazare (1877) at the start of the revolution. Adolph Menzel, a German realist painter, also depicted the revolution with his painting The Iron Rolling Mill (1875) and William Blake, a British Romantic artist, wrote a poem called "London" (1794) in which the main theme is the revolution. Although they all come from different cultural movements, including Impressionism, Realism, and Romanticism, they all depict the effects of the Industrial Revolution with a pessimistic view. The Impressionist movement began in 1874 in Paris, created by, among others, Claude Monet. The movement took place during industrialization which began around 1850 in France. Impressionist painters liked to paint scenes from everyday life such as Parisian leisure time and the activities of modern life. They painted scenes of people, mainly bourgeois, in cafes, theaters and concerts (Janson 706). In other words, the artists found their inspiration in everyday outdoor scenes. The impressionist movement attempted to change the conventions of painting created by the art academy and the inclusion of modern life was one of the characteristics...... middle of paper ...... giving a feeling of oppression and pessimism. Works Cited Blake, William. Course pack on literary themes “London”, Ed. Stephen P. Adamien. Quebec: Cégep Champlain St-Lawrence 2013. Edmunson, Mark. “The America of William Blake, 2010”. Chronicle of Higher Education 57.10 (2010): B11-B12. Premier Academic Research. Internet. March 12, 2014. Finocchio, Ross. “French Realism of the 19th Century” In the Heilbrunn Art History Chronology. 2000. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. March 12, 2014.< http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/imml/hd_imml.htm >Janson, Harry W. Art History. 5th ed. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1995. Print. Rioux, Jean-Pierre. The industrial revolution 1780-1880. Paris: Seuil, 1971. Printed. Welton, Jude. Impressionism. Paris: Gallimard, 1993. Print. Wildenstein, Daniel. Monet or the Triumph of Impressionism. Paris: Taschen Wildenstein Institute, 2003. Printed.