‘Paper Chase’ at Heckscher Museum

'Paper Chase' at Heckscher Museum

Over 50 works by American Impressionists on display through September

July 16, 2009 | 10:53 AM
Say the term "Impressionism" to most people and they will immediately think of great 19th century European artists such as Monet, Renoir and Cézanne. These artists left the studio to paint outdoors, en plein air, capturing light and color on canvas. Brush strokes became apparent, giving their work less of a photographic feel than studio-created paintings and more of an impression of a scene rather than an exact representation. The term Impressionism was in fact derived from Monet's work, "Impression, Sunrise."

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the United States had its own "Impressionist" painters as well, many also painting en plain air, capturing light and color as scenes changed before their very eyes. Among them were William Merritt Chase, Winslow Homer, Childe Hassam and Mary Cassatt. Some of these artists worked not only in oils on canvas but in watercolors and pastels as well as prints, all on paper.

The Heckscher Museum has recently opened its new exhibit, "Paper Chase: Works on Paper by William Merritt Chase and his Contemporaries." Chase, one of the most important American artists of the time period, was a member of The Ten American Painters (a group of American artists who held annual exhibits for approximately 20 years), taught at The Art Students League and for approximately 10 years was president of the Society of American Artists. He also opened the Shinnecock Hills Summer School of Art on eastern Long Island.

Said Lisa Chalif, assistant curator, "It's an appropriate show to have during the summer since so many of the works (in the exhibit) were done en plein air." Another reason that the Heckscher Museum chose to do this particular exhibit, she noted, was that "Shows with works on paper aren't as common. Paper works are more fragile." In addition, "During the age of Chase, the later part of the 19th century, many societies were established to raise the stature of works on paper — The American Watercolor Society, the Society of Painters in Pastel and the New York Etching Club. All things worked together to have this burgeoning interest in works on paper."

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There are several themes evident in the Heckscher show. In addition to the theme of works on paper, another, noted Chalif is that the works show all aspects of Chase's career "from his student days in Munich, to his travels, the artists he knew in New York and his students." The European connection is also evident. "Almost everyone who wanted to be an artist then went to Europe to travel or to study art."

In addition to works by Chase, also featured in the exhibit are John Henry Twachtman, Tile Club associates Edwin Austin Abbey, Winslow Homer and Julien Alden Weir, and many other contemporary artists such as Childe Hassam, Edward Steichen, Georgia O'Keefe and Mary Cassatt to name a few.

In connection with the exhibit, the museum will hold a special program, Art History 101, Paper Chase with Fred Baker on Wednesday, August 12 from 7 to 8:30 pm. Baker and the late Chase scholar Ron Pisano donated over 300 works, many by artists associated with Chase, to the Heckscher Museum in 2001.

Chalif noted that over 35 artists are represented in the exhibit. Many of the 50 works shown come from the Baker/Pisano collection. "Approximately two-thirds of the exhibit comes from our own collection," said Chalif. The exhibit will also feature loans from the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Morgan Library and Yale University Art Gallery.

A 24-page brochure has been produced to accompany the exhibit. The color brochure, which reproduces 16 of the works, will be available at the museum for $10. The exhibit and its accompanying catalogue are made possible by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. The exhibit will run through September 27.

The Heckscher Museum is located on Prime Avenue in Huntington. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm and first Friday of the month to 8:30 pm. The museum is also open on holiday Mondays from 10 to 5 pm. For further information, call 351-3250 or go to www.heckscher.org.

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