American Impressionism: Paintings from The Phillips Collection

Organized by The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.

October 2, 2009 - January 3, 2010

Duncan Phillips (1886-1966) was among the early collectors of American impressionist paintings, acquiring most of the works in this exhibition directly from artists he had come to know. Initially drawn to works by Ernest Lawson, Phillips soon discovered John Twachtman and J. Alden Weir, mentors of Lawson. The poetic vein of American impressionism satisfied Phillips' passion for modern landscape painting. He considered Theodore Robinson to be more romantic than Claude Monet, with whom Robinson had worked at Giverny. Phillips' acquisition of works by American impressionists soon formed the cornerstone of his collection. He admired the lyrical quality of these intimate landscapes that portrayed the changing light of seasons and times of day.

The fifty-four paintings included in the exhibition feature the pioneers of American impressionism -- Childe Hassam, Theodore Robinson, John Twachtman, J. Alden Weir, William Glackens, and Maurice Prendergast. These artists created a new interpretation of America's landscape and cities. Through a network of artistic friendships, classroom teaching at the Art Students League in New York, and the establishment of artists' colonies throughout New England and in Giverny, France, American impressionism became nationally widespread and stylistically diverse.

The national tour of the exhibition is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as part of its American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Genius program.