19th Century American Art and Politics

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Questions and Answers

What does the term 'horse-trading' commonly refer to in the nineteenth century?

Back-room political deals (correct)

Agricultural trading methods

Negotiations among farmers

Financial investments in horses

How did the painting 'Bargaining for a Horse' connect to the themes of slavery and abolitionism?

By showing slaves bargaining for their freedom

Through the use of gestures such as 'ear tickling' (correct)

By depicting a horse as a metaphor for freedom

By illustrating agricultural life in the South

What was misleading about William Henry Harrison's campaign image as 'the common man'?

His campaign used false demographics.

He was a wealthy plantation owner. (correct)

He was known for his humble beginnings.

He lived in a log cabin during his campaign.

What role did hard cider play in William Henry Harrison's election campaign?

It attracted voters to rallies. Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first American genre painter to depict the West?

George Caleb Bingham Signup and view all the answers

How did Bingham's view of the West differ from that of Northeastern commentators?

He depicted it as a thriving economic area. Signup and view all the answers

What significant political action did George Caleb Bingham take in addition to his art?

He won a seat in the Missouri state legislature. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary characteristics of genre painting?

It represents scenes of everyday life. Signup and view all the answers

What does the painting 'Cider Making' symbolize regarding the 1840 election?

A political commentary on the election process Signup and view all the answers

How did genre painting resonate with its intended audience?

It highlighted the value of hard work to middle-class viewers. Signup and view all the answers

What was a common theme in the painting 'War News From Mexico' by Richard Caton Woodville?

The social dynamics and anxieties of changing demographics. Signup and view all the answers

What role did the American Art Union play in the context of genre painting during the 19th century?

It facilitated the promotion and exhibition of genre works. Signup and view all the answers

In William Sydney Mount's works, what character did he often caricature?

The Yankee farmer. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement reflects William Sydney Mount's initial artistic aspirations?

He aimed to be a history painter. Signup and view all the answers

What does the presence of African-American figures in Woodville's painting imply?

Their placement suggests social marginalization. Signup and view all the answers

How did political events, such as the election of Jackson in 1828, influence art during that period?

There was an increase in caricatures reflecting societal views. Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant consequence of the industrialism that influenced Realism in art?

Increased social consciousness among artists Signup and view all the answers

How did the admission of women to the Academie Julian differ from that of men?

Women were charged higher fees than men Signup and view all the answers

What role did the Paris Salon play for artists during the late 19th century?

It was a juried exhibition that could enhance or damage an artist's career Signup and view all the answers

Which art movement is characterized by a focus on contemporary life and social issues, often in contrast to romanticism?

Realism Signup and view all the answers

What event did the Centennial Exhibition commemorate in 1876?

The 100th anniversary of American independence Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of life in Philadelphia did Thomas Eakins aim to reflect in his art upon returning from Europe?

Sports and contemporary activities Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the primary focus of academic art during the late 19th century?

Traditional classical, religious, and mythological subjects Signup and view all the answers

What was the Academie Julian's original intent regarding its students?

To allow students to work from live models for Ecole exams Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Genre Painting

Represented everyday scenes of life
Appealed to the middle class, who valued hard work
Promoted by gift books, magazines, and Currier and Ives prints
Influenced by the American Art Union

Richard Caton Woodville's War News from Mexico (1849)

Depicted a scene of a crowd reading the news
Exhibited at the American Art Union in 1849

Paintings often showed humorous depictions of class status and newly immigrated Americans
They also revealed anxiety about demographic shifts and the political environment
Often had a seated African American man in a bright orange shirt, and a child in a tattered white dress

Painting as a Means of Communication

Painting, unlike writing, can address a wider audience
It's understandable to those who can't read or write.
A well-told story in a painting can be understood by all
This is useful for diverse populations and education

William Sidney Mount

Initially wanted to be a history painter like Benjamin West
Born in 1807 on Long Island into a wealthy family
Became a successful wholesale grocer's apprentice
Trained in sign painting
Studied at the National Academy of Design
Developed an appreciation for European art, landscapes, and history painting

Caricatures of the Yankee Farmer

Mount's work responded to caricatures of the Yankee Farmer after the 1828 presidential election

"Horse-Trading" in the 19th Century

"Horse-trading" was a colloquialism for back-room political deals

"The Course of Empire"

A painting commissioned by merchant Luman Reed
Likely depicted a scene of someone being shortchanged by a horse trade
Shown the struggles and satisfying elements of suspense

William Sydney Mount's Farmer's Nooning (1836)

Portrays a scene of a resting farmers with a dark-skinned figure among them
Some argued the work was intended as a commentary of race relations and the abolitionist movement

George Caleb Bingham

First American genre painter to depict the West
Portrayed the West as a potential territory connected to the East by rivers.
Shown Missouri agricultural production and its economic relationship to the East
Also involved in Missouri politics, winning a seat in the state legislature

Bingham's Representations of the West

Depicted the West as a part of the national political and economic life
Emphasized the resources and transportation systems that connected the East to the West

Boatymen and Transportation

Pictures of rivermen, along with their goods, were intended to counter the idea that they were rowdy and lazy.
They were important to trade
The flatboats were frequently used despite the development of the steamboat in the 1840s.

Bingham's The County Election (1851)

Highlights corruption within the voting process
Politician Bingham, though depicting the election, noted corruption in the system

Slavery and Genre Painting

Genre paintings sometimes touched on the sensitive subject of slavery
Figures were sometimes pushed toward the border in paintings or shown with less prominence

Eastman Johnson

Focused on the imagery of slavery
Depicted the experience of slaves
His work was regarded as novel as it examined slavery from a unique angle, a direct expression of the subject.

Interest in Nostalgia Following the Civil War

Artwork reflected nostalgia after the Civil War
Shown in subjects depicting families and the past

Lilly Martin Spencer

A successful female artist of the 19th century.
Was one of the only successful female professional painters in New York City at that time
Supported her large family

Academic Art

Includes history paintings such as those of classical subjects, religious subjects, mythological subjects and allegorical subjects
Everything else including portraits, still life, landscape, and genre pictures

The École des Beaux-Arts

Established in 1814 as part of the French Academy of Fine Arts
Provided extensive training in life drawing, painting, sculpture, engraving, and architecture.
Drew heavily from ancient Greece and Rome in their teaching and architectural designs

The Paris Salon

A yearly, state-sponsored art exhibition
Showcased traditional and academic works of art
Success at the Salon could greatly impact an artist's career

Thomas Eakins

Graduated from Central High School in 1861 with outstanding grades
Studied in Philadelphia, and went on to Paris in 1862 to continue his education.
Became a director at the Pennsylvania Academy in 1882
Introduced a wider range of teaching methods such as the utilization of human anatomy and cadavers through dissection
Overhauled the Academy curriculum

Eakins's Rejection from the Salon

Wasn't accepted into the École des Beaux-Arts' program
His work was deemed too raw or too contemporary

Realism

A response to concerns stemming from industrialization, politics, and economics.
Showed a dedication to class, gender, and social consciousness.
Artists portrayed everyday life in a way consistent with the modern world, unlike the Romantics.

Winslow Homer

Homer began his career as a lithographer
During the Civil War, he embedded himself with Northern troops to produce illustrations of war scenes, without having a say in the subject.
Became a successful painter, using watercolors increasingly in his later work
Went to England twice, during 1881-1882, and moved to Maine in 1883
Painted many American scenes - soldiers, scenes of everyday life, and portraits.

Themes in Homer's Work

Captured the realities of slavery
Portrayed the common soldier
Focused on the human condition and themes of leisure and nostalgia during the 1870s.
Showed landscapes and the daily life of village and city dwellers
Themes of solitude, nature and the human experience

Sargent

Part of a generation which sought out European art.
Took several paths in his artwork, including Impressionism.
Did not begin his career in the United States
Became one of the most sought-after American painters in Europe

Sargent's Views on Portraits and the Impressionists

Strived for realistic depictions and expressions.
Challenged the norms and traditional ways of portraying someone
Inspired by Impressionist painters

Sargent's Early Life and Influences

Born in Florence. Lived throughout Europe
Spoken several languages
Family was very supportive
Exposed to European art and society at an early age.

Watercolors in Sargent's Work

Worked with watercolors early on, but did not focus on it in his career until later
Spent years painting in Venice, and capturing gondolas.
Returned to America but continued to work on European subjects.

Artistic Movements and Influence

Demonstrated skills in realism, impressionism, and other movements

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Description

Explore the intersection of art and politics in 19th century America. This quiz delves into the significance of genre painting, the portrayal of politicians, and themes that reveal societal attitudes toward issues such as slavery and common man imagery. Test your knowledge on key artists and their roles during this pivotal era.