Customer Reviews

California Impressionism

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The paintings throughout the book are reproduced in radiant and superb color, helping one grasp the phenomenal beauty conveyed by the works. The pages are thicker and heavier than most of the art books on the market today. The paintings of the California masters are included as well as some works by lesser known artists. The text is fresh, easy and fun to read, and the chapters are well organized, exploring the origins and evolution of the Impressionistic movement in California. I predict this volume will become a classic. Definitely worth the money!

As the inside cover reads and I completely agree, "Lavishly illustrated, painstakingly researched, and gracefully written, this handsome volume is the definitive study of California's distinctive style of Impressionism." Dr Will South provides a chronological survey of the California Impressionists starting in the later part of the 1800's up to the final days in the 1920's-30's. Dr. Gerdts analyzes the California Impressionist Movement with style. With biographies of approximately 75 artists and an extensive bibliography, this volume is not just a coffee table art book. It is an important research tool to conduct an extensive study of any of these artists.

As discussed in the book, the California Impressionists were creationists, and painted the glories of nature as being from the hand of the Almighty. It might very well be that such a perspective is necessary to fully apreciate the spectacular scenery of their state. Accordingly, as Will South points out, the California Impressionists were more the artistic ancestors of the Hudson River School rather than their presumed French forbears.

The color reporductions in this book are quite good and the narrative is informative, though I must admit the first part of the book starts a bit slow with many names, dates and places. Later on the book more deeply delves into aesthetic considerations and picks up quite quickly. By the end of the book the movement loses its steam at the same time as the idyllic and pastoral California of their paintings increasingly vanishes under a flood of paradise seeking immigrants from the east and we are left with a sense of wistful regret at the loss. Yet this book preserves the art and times of late 19th, early 20th century California, and does so memorably well.

This is without a doubt my favorite art book ever. And I own many art books. My husband gave this book to me for Christmas years ago, and I like to keep it close by. If I'm uninspired and unmotivated, which happens to every artist occasionally, I open this book and get instant inspiration. The gorgeous color reproductions are finer and more accurate than many similar art books. The authors have included the works of a wide variety of California's Impressionist artist, with well researched details of the development of Impressionism and the lives and careers of these wonderful California artists.
If I could only keep one art book, this would be it.

I have enjoyed this book for many years and take it along with me when I go on a painting trip. I enjoy the expressive styles, paint applications, and use of color.

The book was in excellent condition (new) and was available for less than half the price of the book in the museum bookstores. It has good color reproductions and interesting companion text.

Wonderful colors and plates. Inspirational to browse through or informative to read and digest. A good addition to any art library.