Impressionism was a movement in painting that began in the late 19th century and emphasized the use of light and colour to create a sense of movement and immediacy in a scene. The Impressionists were interested in capturing the momentary effects of light on a subject, and they often painted outdoors and used a technique of broken brushstrokes to create a sense of movement and spontaneity in their work.

As the Impressionist movement progressed, some artists began to push the boundaries of the movement and experiment with more abstract forms. These artists, such as Paul Cézanne, Georges Seurat, and Vincent van Gogh, began to break down the forms in their paintings and use more simplified shapes and colours.

In the early 20th century, artists like Wassily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich, and Piet Mondrian took this experimentation even further and developed the first true abstract art. They rejected the traditional representational forms and focused on the use of colour, line and form to create non-representational works.

In summary, Impressionism laid the foundation for the development of abstract art by emphasizing the use of light and colour. As the Impressionist movement progressed, some artists began to experiment with more abstract forms, ultimately leading to the development of the first true abstract art in the early 20th century.