1903

Joseph Turner's Rain, Steam and Speed

Claude Debussy, known as Achille in his early years, grew up during the period known as Impressionism, a movement which began as a reaction to the excesses and romanticism that preceded it. Impressionists attempted to "suggest rather than to depict; to mirror not the object but the emotional reaction to the object; to interpret a fugitive impression rather than to seize upon and fix the permanent reality" (Tsai). Impressionism began with art in the mid-1800s when Joseph Turner painted Rain, Steam and Speed. Turner had a great influence on Debussy, as confirmed by his two appearances in Debussy's letters as the "finest creator of mystery in art" (Tsai). They shared a common passion for depicting qualities of illusion and dreams over reality. Turner's style of combining colors, shades, and shadows in his works is reflected in Debussy's tonal ambiguity.

Edgar Allan Poe, one of Achille's favorite authors, is noted as the forerunner of Impressionistic writing. Poe wrote psychological tales using the new discoveries of the mysteries of the unconscious mind and the significance of the world of dreams. The "stream of unconsciousness" style of writing, a type of free-writing that reflects the author's thoughts, developed (Halford 3). Poe's works inspired Debussy's attempts to write operas for "House of Usher" and "The Devil in the Belfry", neither of which was ever completed. Turner and Poe are often named the "Godfathers of Impressionism" (Halford 3).

Claude-Achille Debussy is considered the father of Impressionistic music. He is known for composing works filled with shimmering tonalities and blurred outlines that evoke the dreamlike world of the unconscious. His pieces are also uniquely visual with "images and scenes hidden within the music, never conveyed directly, but always colored by the artist's imagination" (The Musical Impressions-Claude Debussy). The music of Debussy sounds magical and mysterious, as if it is partially unveiling a great secret surrounding us.