American Art - Blog Posts

Fallout (Frost Print) TW Savidge 2021 From original acrylic painting 2017

Edward Gorey

Edward Gorey

Edward Gorey

It's sort of an 'all across europe' thing. Or at least I think it is. I might be wrong since I'm from one of the 'more bitter countries'. Our hate language is vicious mockery (and so is our love language to be honest(that is when we speak at all)).

On one hand I understand it, I really do, It's not reasonable but it is an aftermath of the world wars. And if I want to go further it is really an aftermath of the way the whole country was born at all (rebellious child anthology).

However, and this is what I think matters more, while it is understandable it is unacceptable. While politics and art are never going to be inseparable, this amount of backlash is toxic.

Besides, on the other hand, the US is a relatively young country with such a young society and so much potential and it truly feels like hating on a new generation.

This is such a dumb petty thing to care about but it drives me up a wall how French people (and maybe other Europeans, but I'm only speaking for the French) are soooo snooty about Americans and American culture. They love to mock us about literature, food, art, etc

But they love all of it!! My local cinemas are playing Lynch films every single night right now in an homage. I went to Lost Highway last night and it wasn't packed but for a Thursday night last minute showing of a 30 year old film the theater was pretty full. Lynch was from Montana!!!

Like I get that it doesn't matter but it does drive me nuts because I think Americans internalize this to a degree (I know I did) and don't appreciate the incredible art produced by our own fellow Americans and that's a real shame

Edwin Deakin Palace of Fine Arts and the Lagoon, circa 1915 Oil on canvas 82.23 x 122.87 cm Credit: The Athenaeum [Public Domain]

Colin Campbell Cooper Mission Corridor, San Juan Capistrano, circa 1916 Oil on canvas 54.61 x 45.09 cm Credit: The Athenaeum [Public Domain]

Childe Hassam

Home Sweet Home Cottage, East Hampton, circa 1916

Oil on canvas

52.71 x 60.96 cm

Credit: The Athenaeum [Public Domain]

Frank W. Benson Moonlight, 1901 Oil on canvas 38.1 x 76.2 cm Credit: The Athenaeum [Public Domain]

John Singer Sargent The Loggia, Vizcaya, 1917 Watercolor 40.3 x 53.3 cm Credit: The Athenaeum [Public Domain]

William Samuel Horton Still Life in Venice, circa 1920 Oil on canvas 107.95 x 89.54 cm Credit: The Athenaeum [Public Domain]

Joseph Stella Battle of Lights, Coney Island, Mardi Gras, 1913 Oil on canvas 193.04 x 213.36 cm Credit: The Athenaeum [Public Domain]

Cecilia Beaux - Man With The Cat Portrait Of Henry Sturgis Drinker 1898

Naudline Pierre (Haitian-American, 1989) - Mythic (2024)

“One morning this sadness will fossilize

And I will forget how to cry

I'll keep going to work and you won't see a change

Save perhaps a slight gray in my eye”

Painting: Automat by Edward Hopper, 1927

Song: Fireworks, Mitski

Blue Ruin by Jim Buckels (1948)