🎨American Art – 1865 to 1968 Unit 7 – Regionalism: The American Scene

Key Concepts and Context

• Regionalism emerged as a distinct artistic movement in the United States during the 1930s, focusing on depicting the unique character and culture of different regions of the country
• Emphasized realism and representational art, moving away from the abstract and experimental styles of modernism
• Sought to capture the essence of rural and small-town life, celebrating the values and traditions of the American heartland
• Regionalist artists often depicted scenes of everyday life, including farmers, laborers, and rural landscapes
• Aimed to promote a sense of national identity and pride during a time of economic hardship and social upheaval (Great Depression)
• Rejected the influence of European art and sought to establish a uniquely American artistic tradition
• Key figures in the Regionalist movement include Thomas Hart Benton, Grant Wood, and John Steuart Curry

Historical Background

• Regionalism developed in the context of the Great Depression, a period of economic crisis and social turmoil in the United States during the 1930s
• The movement was partly a response to the perceived elitism and abstraction of modernist art, which many Regionalists felt was disconnected from the lives and experiences of ordinary Americans
• Regionalism was supported by the federal government through programs like the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) and the Treasury Section of Painting and Sculpture, which commissioned artists to create public murals and other works
• The movement was influenced by the American Scene painting of the 1920s, which similarly focused on depicting the unique character of different regions of the country
• Regionalism was also shaped by the rise of nationalism and isolationism in the United States during the interwar period, as many Americans sought to assert a distinct national identity in the face of global economic and political upheaval

Major Artists and Works

• Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975) was a leading figure in the Regionalist movement, known for his monumental murals and paintings depicting life in the American Midwest
  • Notable works include "America Today" (1930-31), a series of murals commissioned for the New School for Social Research in New York City, and "A Social History of the State of Missouri" (1936), a mural cycle in the Missouri State Capitol
• Grant Wood (1891-1942) is best known for his iconic painting "American Gothic" (1930), which depicts a stern-looking farmer and his daughter standing in front of a white house with a distinctive Gothic window
  • Other notable works include "Stone City, Iowa" (1930) and "Parson Weems' Fable" (1939)
• John Steuart Curry (1897-1946) was known for his paintings and murals depicting the rural life and landscapes of his native Kansas
  • Notable works include "Baptism in Kansas" (1928) and "Wisconsin Landscape" (1938-39)
• Other significant Regionalist artists include Charles Burchfield, Dale Nichols, and Reginald Marsh

Artistic Techniques and Styles

• Regionalist artists typically employed a realistic and representational style, with an emphasis on clear, readable images and narratives
• Used a variety of media, including oil painting, watercolor, lithography, and mural painting
• Often worked on a large scale, creating monumental murals and paintings that were intended to be accessible and engaging to a wide audience
• Employed a range of compositional techniques, such as dynamic diagonals, rhythmic curves, and bold color contrasts, to create a sense of movement and energy in their works
• Drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including folk art, popular culture, and the natural landscape
  • For example, Grant Wood's distinctive style was influenced by the flat, decorative qualities of German and Flemish Renaissance painting
• Regionalist artists often worked from direct observation, sketching and painting on location to capture the unique character and atmosphere of different regions

Themes and Subject Matter

• Regionalist art often depicted scenes of everyday life in rural and small-town America, including farmers, laborers, and local communities
• Celebrated the values and traditions of the American heartland, such as hard work, self-reliance, and connection to the land
• Explored the relationship between people and their environment, depicting the ways in which the natural landscape shaped the lives and identities of rural Americans
• Addressed social and political issues of the time, such as the impact of the Great Depression on rural communities and the tensions between tradition and modernity
  • For example, Thomas Hart Benton's mural cycle "A Social History of the State of Missouri" (1936) depicts the history and development of Missouri, including the displacement of Native Americans and the impact of industrialization on rural life
• Regionalist artists also depicted American folk heroes and legends, such as Paul Bunyan and Johnny Appleseed, as symbols of national identity and character

Cultural and Social Influences

• Regionalism was influenced by a range of cultural and social factors, including the rise of nationalism and isolationism in the United States during the interwar period
• The movement was shaped by the populist politics of the time, which emphasized the importance of rural and working-class Americans and criticized the perceived elitism and corruption of urban culture
• Regionalism was also influenced by the cultural pluralism of the United States, as artists sought to celebrate the diverse regional identities and traditions of the country
• The movement was supported by a network of cultural institutions and patrons, including museums, galleries, and government agencies like the Treasury Section of Painting and Sculpture
• Regionalism had a significant impact on popular culture, as images and themes from Regionalist art were widely disseminated through magazines, advertisements, and other media
  • For example, Grant Wood's "American Gothic" became an iconic image of American culture, appearing on everything from magazine covers to parodies and advertisements

Critical Reception and Impact

• Regionalism was widely popular and critically acclaimed during the 1930s, as many Americans responded to the movement's celebration of rural life and national identity
• The movement was supported by influential cultural figures, such as the art critic Thomas Craven, who praised Regionalism as a uniquely American form of art that rejected the influence of European modernism
• However, some critics and artists criticized Regionalism as being overly sentimental, nostalgic, and politically conservative
  • For example, the artist Jackson Pollock, who would later become a leading figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement, dismissed Regionalism as "provincial" and "illustrational"
• Regionalism also faced criticism for its lack of diversity and representation of marginalized groups, as the movement was dominated by white, male artists and often depicted idealized or stereotypical images of rural life
• Despite these criticisms, Regionalism had a significant impact on American art and culture, helping to establish a distinctly American artistic tradition and paving the way for later movements like Abstract Expressionism

Legacy and Contemporary Relevance

• Regionalism played a significant role in shaping the development of American art in the 20th century, helping to establish a distinctly American artistic tradition and paving the way for later movements like Abstract Expressionism
• The movement's emphasis on realism, accessibility, and social engagement continues to influence contemporary artists who seek to address issues of place, identity, and community in their work
• Regionalist art has also had a lasting impact on popular culture, with iconic images like Grant Wood's "American Gothic" becoming widely recognized symbols of American identity and values
• In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Regionalism among scholars and curators, who have sought to reexamine the movement's complex social and political dimensions and its place in the broader history of American art
  • For example, the exhibition "America After the Fall: Painting in the 1930s" (2016-17) at the Art Institute of Chicago explored the ways in which Regionalist artists responded to the social and economic upheavals of the Great Depression
• Contemporary artists have also drawn inspiration from Regionalism's emphasis on place and community, creating works that engage with specific regional identities and histories
  • For example, the artist Wendy Red Star's series "Four Seasons" (2006) uses the format of traditional Crow storytelling to explore the history and culture of her native Montana