California Impressionism (Hardcover)

~ William H. Gerdts (Author), Will South (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Until now . . . a definitive work on California impressionism did not exist. . . . [C]opious, thorough, interesting, and readable. The authors perform an admirable job of tracing the roots of California impressionism, relating it to the American impressionist movement and describing its distinguishing characteristics. . . . [A] lovely book. The kind one likes to savor slowly, as he or she would a fine California wine. -- Bloomsbury Review, July/August 1999

William Gerdts, professor of art history at the Graduate School of The City of New York and an authority on American Impressionism, has written a detailed, expansive essay tracing the concept, sources and development of the California Impressionist movement. . . . Will South writes a more narrative piece, a chronological account of the movement filled with professional and biographical tidbits to delight both researchers and casual readers. . . . a fine resource for students, researchers and collectors. . . . a focused examination of a specific art movement in a specific region-a good reference for students and researchers, and attractive for casual page-turners and fans of impressionism in general. -- Baton Rouge Advocate, August 2, 1998

Product Description

Lavishly illustrated, meticulously researched, and gracefully written, this definitive study of California's distinctive style of impressionism surveys the movement's sources abroad, its most influential artists, and the critical responses to the style. 248 illustrations, 201 in color.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 284 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press; 1st edition (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789201763
• ISBN-13: 978-0789201768
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #336,246 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #63 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Post-Impressionism
  #64 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Impressionism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A definite must for those who love Impressionism!, December 13, 1999

By	C McGurk (Southern California) - See all my reviews

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!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars California Impressionism, October 27, 2000

By	Deborah Abernethy "dbamm5" (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Glorious, February 18, 2006

By	Strategy Doctor (Michigan) - See all my reviews

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.