A Show Not to Miss: American Artists in Paris

[Lynn_McBride]

In the late 1800’s, the impressionist movement was in full flower in France, and American painters were drawn to its light. The influence French painters had on visiting American artists was something these painters would take back to the states, and in turn it would change the face of American art. Cassat, Whistler, Robinson, Breck, Sargent, and many more: they all moved in the impressionists’ circles, absorbing their new techniques in Paris or at Monet’s Givervny estate. Female artists here in particular felt unleashed from the bonds of both American and French society, free to experiment.

Fast forward from old century to new, and American artists are still making the pilgrimage to France, to paint in that beautiful French light. Which, though I'm not an artist, I know all about---there IS a special, gentle quality to the light here, and a certain soft shade of blue sky and white cloud that intriques and soothes. Painting, above: "Mur" by Rhett Thurman.

So what better subject for an art show in Paris, than to bring together American painters of our time, painting in France?

My friend Rhett Thurman is a South Carolina girl and a favorite artist of mine in Charleston. She has a way of taking the traditional and making it beautiful and fresh. Rhett is one of ten artists who has been invited to join the show, “Paris Welcomes American Artists”. All of the artists in the show have painted in France and their work has been influenced by France. Painting, right: “Courtyard, St. Remy”, by Rhett Thurman.

If you happen to be lucky enough to be headed to Paris, next month, you can catch the show, all the details are here. If not, you can virtually visit the ten artists and their work here.

And to be dazzled by Rhett Thurman’s lovely paintings of Charleston and of her travels, visit this gallery.

Felicitations, Rhett!

Favorite Reads: To learn more about 19th century American artists in Paris, here’s are two book to try: Americans in Paris 1860-1900 (National Gallery London) and The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris.

And if you haven't read Micheala Rodeno's great new book on wine, women, and leadership, From Bubbles to Boardrooms: Act 1: Startups Are Such Fun (or even if you have), you might want to go over to my author interview with her this week at The Daily Basics.

In the COMMENTS: Thanks, y'all, for the nice comments about my book, and especially for the ideas for the next one! Keith, nice to hear from you and I hadn't heard that ghost story of the château, but I have some of my own!

Do check out our reader Jo Anne's books, Falling in Love with France
and My Trip Around the Hexagon: Meandering In France. And felicitations to our reader Herm, who just crossed the 10,000 mark for hits on his blog, Poems, Photos and Stuff.

Other news: Y'all know I'm a fan of Ultralingua dictionaries, and I'm thrilled that they're featuring an article I wrote this week, on using dictionary apps for language studies. You can read it at the Ultralingua blog.