Impressionism in the Northwest

At the beginning of the twentieth century, American impressionism became an independent movement, ending the European tradition in different ways. Drawing on earlier experiments with light and color, artists in the United States used broken brushstrokes to portray the broad landscapes of North America. Many exhibitions and publications have explored these differences in relation to artists working on the east coast and, to a lesser extent, in California. Impressionism in the Northwest has only recently sparked increased academic and public interest.

In thisexhibitionpaintings by the impressionists who lived and traveled in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, including Child Gasam, Clyde Leon Keller, Sydney Lawrence, Clara Jane Stevens, John Trullinger, Henry Frederick Wentz, Melville T. Wyre and Eustace Ziegler, are presented.

These artists faced a unique challenge in capturing the vibrant northwest landscape and the unique qualities of light that accompany it. The exhibition features rugged shores, high deserts, dense evergreen forests and high mountain peaks.