George Luks (1866-1933) was an American social realist painter. He is known best for his images of New York City, specifically its working-class and immigrant neighborhoods, and his energetic style seems to suit these scenes' vibrancy perfectly. He also studied and painted in Europe. Along with fellow American painters of urban life, Luks was part of the… Continue reading American Art of the Week: Houston Street by George Luks
Category: American Art of the Week
American Art of the Week: Paris La Nuit by Charles Courtney Curran
Charles Courtney Curran, Paris La Nuit (Paris At Night), 1889. Terra Museum of American Art. Photo via the-athenaeum.org. I think there's something quite fascinating about paintings of Europe by American artists. It's interesting to compare how European cities look through American eyes with American scenes and with European artists' representations of the same cities. Does a Frenchman represent Paris differently than… Continue reading American Art of the Week: Paris La Nuit by Charles Courtney Curran
American Art of the Week: The Cathedrals of Broadway by Florine Stettheimer
The Cathedrals of Broadway, from a series of four paintings by American artist Florine Stettmheimer about life in 1920s-40s New York.
American Art of the Week: May Night by Willard Metcalf
Willard Metcalf, May Night, 1906. National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Photo via the-athenaeum.org. I thought that the title of this painting made it appropriate for today. Willard Metcalf (1858-1925) was an influential American artist from New England. He painted this work in Old Lyme, Connecticut when he was associated with the art colony there.*… Continue reading American Art of the Week: May Night by Willard Metcalf
American Art of the Week: Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose by John Singer Sargent
Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose is a lovely, dreamlike painting by John Singer Sargent. It depicts two little girls with Japanese lanterns in a setting of pale flowers.
American Art of the Week: Etretat by Henry A. Bacon
Right now, the weather is pretty crummy where I live, so I definitely picked this painting for reasons of escapism. I also thought it was a watercolor until I read the description. I'm always amazed by oil paintings that manage to convey something of watercolor's characteristic lightness. Henry A. Bacon (1839-1912) was an American painter… Continue reading American Art of the Week: Etretat by Henry A. Bacon
American Art of the Week: World’s Columbian Exposition by Theodore Robinson
Theodore Robinson, World's Columbian Exposition, 1894. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Photo via the-athenaeum.org. Theodore Robinson (1852-1896) was one of the first American impressionist painters, and he painted at the Giverny, France artists' colony alongside Claude Monet.* This particular painting, one of his late works, is perhaps not as characteristic of his usual style as… Continue reading American Art of the Week: World’s Columbian Exposition by Theodore Robinson
American Art of the Week: Girl with Japanese Lanterns by Everett Shinn
There's something so beautifully mysterious about this painting by Ashcan School artist Everett Shinn (1876-1953). I think it's the contrast between the dark background and bright lights from the lanterns, combined with the loose, painterly brushwork making up the main shapes. You get just enough sense of the scene to be draw in by it, but details of… Continue reading American Art of the Week: Girl with Japanese Lanterns by Everett Shinn
American Art of the Week: Co-ee-há-jo, a Seminole Chief by George Catlin
Co-ee-ha-jo, a Seminole Chief by George Catlin, 1837 [public domain] via Wikimedia Commons. Smithsonian American Art Museum. George Catlin (1796-1872) was a unique sort of artist/anthropologist/social activist/entertainment producer combination who achieved lasting notoriety for his sympathetic paintings of Native Americans. Having become interested in Native American culture at a young age, the adult Catlin travelled throughout the American west with William… Continue reading American Art of the Week: Co-ee-há-jo, a Seminole Chief by George Catlin
American Art of the Week: Camel Grazing at Mosque by Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) is world famous for his works in stained glass and other decorative arts, as well as for founding Tiffany Studios. However, did you also know that he was an accomplished painter? While that doesn't come as a complete surprise to me, of course, I had never really focused on that fact until one… Continue reading American Art of the Week: Camel Grazing at Mosque by Louis Comfort Tiffany