Jessica Fahy Art Historian

American art made in the late 19^th century reflects a time of great change in the Western world and in the style of art. In fact it could be argued that some of the greatest changes in art happened at this time, while most started in Europe the impact overseas was just as significant. Painters began to go outside to paint quickly to capture the light and the real world with results so unlike the carefully studied academic tradition. American artists like so many others flocked to the Paris ateliers to learn all about the 'new' style, initially this was the movement known as Realism but it progressed into Impressionism and then the many strand we now class Post-Impressionism. While some artist stayed in Europe many return the the USA bringing new ideas with them. There was often a better market there for the 'new', the art dealer Durand-Ruel said "The American public does not laugh. It buys!" The massive wealth increase in the country is important too and leads to the excesses and scandals of the Glided Age.

The change in Art was also influenced by new technology like the invention of photography, resealable metal paint tubes and square brushes. These helped make being an artist easier and open to more people. Along with other societal changes this also allowed for more women to become artists even if it would be a while before they were treated as professionals. Similarly more black american and some native American have artistic careers in a still very much white run country. More popular art forms can be found in the growing world of advertisement and the massive industry of printing. It is also the first time that there are internationally famous American born artists who are still household names today.

Artists included: Grandma Moses, Harriet Hosmer, Nampeyo, Abigail May Alcott Nieriker, Eadweard Muybridge, Mary Cassatt, John Singer Sargent and James McNeill Whistler.