This course is offered online via the easy-to-use Zoom program.
This course focuses on the second generation of Hudson River School artists (1850-75), notably theLuminists, and the evolution of landscape painting throughout the next several decades.The impact of Civil War, Darwin’s influence, and newfound emphasis on the softer, more poetic and subjectivestyle of French Barbizon painters caused a decline in Hudson River School popularity.
The course discussesthe development of Tonalism, Impressionism and early Modernism, reflecting changing times and values inNorth America and elsewhere. National cultural identities of several countries were articulated and furtheredthrough landscape painting, much as Thomas Cole and others had accomplished in the United States sincethe 1820s. We’ll highlight this aspect of our northern neighbor, Canada, where the Toronto-based Group of Seven wasformed during the period surrounding World War One.
With their signature bright colors and roughbrushstrokes, they captured not only the land but also the movement of the water and the clouds, the sound ofthe wind and the smells of the forest.As with Mr. Pearson's Spring 2020 course introducing the Hudson River School, there will be wide use of videoclips, often accompanied by tranquil and serene music compatible with the images. Content will not berepeated from that earlier course, although relevant references will be made.
Ralph Pearson received a masters degree fromCornell in hotel administration (MPS.) and a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Buffalo. He led tours worldwide and personally travelled to sites where theartists painted as well as museums with landscape collections and exhibitions. A native of the Upper HudsonValley, his passion for landscape art was formed early as he hiked and paddled the same woods and streamsas did the artists.Ralph is blissfully retiredand enjoyed previous careers as an innkeeper, travel agent, and tour manager.
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OLLI: the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College Partners in education with Williams College, Bard College at Simon's Rock and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 1350 West Street | Pittsfield, MA 01201 | 413.236.2190 | olli@berkshirecc.edu