Americans

Americans: American Genre Painting is a movement that spanned from 1840-1910, in which artists painted the ordinary events of life. Previously, many artists depicted American life through portraits. However, in the 1830’s artists were able to branch out from doing only commissioned portraits, and they were able to paint things that interested them: such as the lower class, or the marginalized. With artists willing to portray these moments, the average middle to high class viewer sees areas of American society that they normally do not have to confront. We are able to see the painful side of American history. These paintings unsurprisingly made viewers uncomfortable with the realities of hardships other Americans had to endure. Though there are many paintings that romanticize American life, these paintings realistically portray the moments in which we might not be as proud of. These paintings promoted conversations that were not a reality before; and they brought unlikely characters to center stage, showing their humanity, and their suffering. 

Artist: William Sydney Mount 

Title: The Power of Music 

Date: 1847 

Medium: Oil on Canvas 

Dimensions: Framed: 67 x 78 x 7.5 cm (26 3/8 x 30 11/16 x 2 15/16 in.); Unframed: 43.4 x 53.5 cm (17 1/16 x 21 1/16 in.)

Museum: The Cleveland Museum of Art 

The Power of Music is set in Long Island before the Civil War. In this painting four men are enjoying the melodies from a fiddle being played by one of the three white men. The beautiful music unites all four men in a moment of enjoyment and pleasure. However, due to racial divisions in America, the black figure has to enjoy the music from the outskirts.

Artist: Jules Tavernier 

Title: Dance in a Subterranean Roundhouse at Clear Lake, California

Date: 1878

Medium: Oil on canvas 

Dimensions: 48 × 72 1/4 in. (121.9 × 183.5 cm)

Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art 

Jules Tavernier took two years to complete this breathtaking painting of a sacred Pomo Indian ritual. The Parisian-trained artist paints approximately 100 figures in this scene. He brilliantly renders light, and focuses the viewer’s attention on the two dancing Indian males. The ritual is most likely in honor of their coming of age. In the midst of these 100 figures are a few white visitors who, unbeknownst to the Indians, are claiming the Pomo lands. 

Artist: Eanger Irving Couse

Title: The Peace Pipe 

Date: 1901

Medium: Oil on canvas 

Dimensions: 26 x 32in. (66 x 81.3cm)

Framed: 33 3/8 x 39 3/8 x 3 3/4in. (84.8 x 100 x 9.5cm)

Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Couse gained interest in Native Americans customs during his upbringing in Michigan. After learning of Taos, New Mexico, he desired to paint in the remote area. This painting visually invites the viewer in the space. There is an empty space at the circle, making the viewer feel like they are supposed to join in. 

Artist: Thomas Anshutz

Title: The Way They Live

Date: 1879

Medium: Oil on canvas 

Dimensions: 24 x 17 in. 

Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art

In post Civil War climate, Anshutz is fascinated with the lifestyle of this newly emancipated African American family. There is a stark contrast between the humble field the mother is plowing, and the beautiful landscape in the background of the painting. The picturesque background of the painting is not the world in which this African American family resides in. The worlds are visually combined with the use of color in the bright red flowers, and the mother’s red scarf. 

Artist: Thomas Anshutz 

Title: The Ironworkers Noontime 

Date: 1880 

Medium: Oil on canvas 

Dimensions: 17.0 in × 23.9 in

Museum: Fine Arts Museum Of San Francisco 

Thomas Anshutz was very interested in portraying the everyday life of an American. He is brutally honest in his portrayal of the bleakness of factory life. The typical painting of industrialization would idealize the advancements of technology. However, Anshutz realistically depicts the hardships of the lives of the factory workers.