The Impressionist painters rejected the strict rules of the French Academy of Fine Arts. They were not the first artists to paint outdoors ______ earlier Barbizon painters also advocated for en plein air techniques to capture natural light.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
however,
; however,
however
, however,
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the best answer. The sentence contains two independent clauses expressing contrasting ideas (Impressionists weren't the first; Barbizon painters were earlier). A semicolon is the correct punctuation to join them. The conjunctive adverb "however" is then followed by a comma.
Choice A is incorrect because it creates a comma splice (a comma cannot join two independent clauses even with "however" without a preceding semicolon). Choice C is incorrect because it fuses the sentences without punctuation. Choice D is incorrect because it creates a comma splice.