American impressionism, one of the most persistent, but complex and even controversial styles of art ever created in this country, has captured and held public attention for over a century.
The exhibition seeks to more fully explore the redefinition of American impressionism as a practice less focused on imitating the French style than on creating an equally independent movement in this country. A key concern is the late appearance of impressionism in America. While French impressionism burst onto the Paris scene in 1874, style arrived in the United States after a decade of discussion and debate here and abroad.