🎨American Art – 1865 to 1968 Unit 1 – Gilded Age: Realism & American Renaissance

Historical Context

• The Gilded Age (1870s-1890s) marked a period of rapid industrialization, economic growth, and social change in the United States following the Civil War
• Vast wealth disparities emerged between the rich and the poor, with the rise of powerful industrialists and financiers (Rockefeller, Carnegie, Morgan)
• Massive immigration from Europe led to increased cultural diversity and urban growth, but also social tensions and xenophobia
  • Immigrants often faced discrimination and poor living conditions in overcrowded tenements
• Political corruption was rampant, with patronage systems and machine politics dominating local and national government
• The Reconstruction era (1865-1877) aimed to rebuild the South and grant civil rights to freed slaves, but ultimately failed due to resistance from white Southerners and lack of federal enforcement
• The closing of the frontier and the rise of the railroad network transformed the American landscape and economy
• Labor unrest and strikes (Haymarket Affair, Homestead Strike) highlighted the struggles of the working class and the need for reform

Key Artists and Writers

• Mark Twain, a novelist and satirist, critiqued American society and politics in works like "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today"
• Winslow Homer, a painter and illustrator, depicted the American landscape and rural life with a sense of realism and nostalgia
  • Notable works include "Snap the Whip" and "The Gulf Stream"
• Thomas Eakins, a realist painter, portrayed the human figure with scientific accuracy and psychological depth, often focusing on athletes, doctors, and musicians
• Henry James, a novelist and critic, explored the clash between American and European cultures and the inner lives of his characters in works like "The Portrait of a Lady" and "The Ambassadors"
• Edith Wharton, a novelist and short story writer, satirized the upper-class society of New York in works like "The Age of Innocence" and "The House of Mirth"
• Theodore Dreiser, a novelist and journalist, exposed the harsh realities of urban life and the American Dream in works like "Sister Carrie" and "An American Tragedy"
• Stephen Crane, a novelist and short story writer, depicted the psychological effects of war and poverty in works like "The Red Badge of Courage" and "Maggie: A Girl of the Streets"

Artistic Movements

• Realism emerged as a reaction against Romanticism, emphasizing the accurate and objective representation of contemporary life and social issues
  • Realist artists rejected idealization and sentimentality in favor of unvarnished truth
• American Renaissance, a cultural movement that sought to create a distinctly American literature and art, drew inspiration from the nation's history, landscape, and democratic ideals
• Tonalism, a painting style characterized by muted colors, soft edges, and atmospheric effects, evoked a sense of mood and mystery in landscapes and seascapes
• American Impressionism, influenced by French Impressionism, focused on capturing the changing effects of light and color in nature and everyday scenes
  • Notable American Impressionists include Mary Cassatt, Childe Hassam, and John Singer Sargent
• The Ashcan School, a group of urban realist painters, depicted the gritty streets, tenements, and working-class life of New York City with a sense of social consciousness
• Naturalism, an offshoot of realism in literature, emphasized the deterministic effects of heredity, environment, and social conditions on human behavior and fate
• Regionalism, a literary and artistic movement that celebrated the unique culture, dialect, and landscape of different regions of the United States (New England, the South, the Midwest)

Literary Themes

• The American Dream and its disillusionment, as characters struggle to achieve success, wealth, and happiness in a rapidly changing society
• Social class and inequality, highlighting the vast disparities between the rich and the poor and the limitations of upward mobility
• The individual vs. society, as characters navigate the pressures of conformity, tradition, and social expectations
  • This theme often involves a critique of the stifling effects of small-town life and the desire for escape and self-realization
• The corruption of wealth and power, as the pursuit of material success leads to moral decay, greed, and exploitation
• The clash of cultures, as characters from different backgrounds (rural vs. urban, American vs. European, East vs. West) encounter and adapt to new ways of life
• The loss of innocence and the coming of age, as young characters confront the harsh realities of adulthood and the complexities of modern life
• The power of nature and the American landscape, as a source of beauty, inspiration, and spiritual renewal, but also as a force of destruction and indifference
• The legacy of the Civil War and Reconstruction, as the nation grapples with the trauma of the past and the ongoing struggles for racial justice and national unity

Social Commentary

• Realist and naturalist writers exposed the dark underbelly of the Gilded Age, including poverty, crime, corruption, and social injustice
  • They aimed to raise awareness and inspire reform through their unflinching portrayals of reality
• The plight of immigrants and the working class was a major focus, with writers and artists depicting the harsh living and working conditions in factories, tenements, and urban slums
• The rise of the women's movement and the "New Woman" challenged traditional gender roles and advocated for women's rights, education, and independence
  • Female writers like Kate Chopin and Charlotte Perkins Gilman explored the constraints of marriage, motherhood, and domesticity
• The effects of industrialization on the environment and rural life were critiqued, with writers and artists mourning the loss of nature, tradition, and community in the face of modernization
• The excesses and contradictions of the Gilded Age were satirized, with writers like Mark Twain and Edith Wharton exposing the hypocrisy, materialism, and moral bankruptcy of the upper classes
• The failures of Reconstruction and the persistence of racism were addressed, with writers like Charles Chesnutt and Paul Laurence Dunbar giving voice to the African American experience and the ongoing struggle for civil rights
• The need for political and social reform was advocated, with writers and artists supporting progressive causes like labor rights, women's suffrage, and the regulation of big business

Technological Influences

• The rise of photography and its use in journalism and art challenged traditional notions of representation and truth
  • Photographers like Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine used their cameras to document social issues and advocate for reform
• The invention of the linotype machine and the rotary press revolutionized the printing industry, making books and newspapers more affordable and accessible to a mass audience
• The expansion of the railroad network and the introduction of the automobile transformed the American landscape and way of life, enabling greater mobility, commerce, and cultural exchange
• The development of electric lighting and the telephone changed the way people lived and worked, extending the day and connecting people across vast distances
• The rise of department stores and mail-order catalogs transformed consumer culture, creating new desires and expectations for material goods and fashion
• The popularity of the bicycle, especially among women, challenged traditional notions of femininity and independence, and sparked a craze for outdoor recreation and exercise
• The emergence of motion pictures and the nickelodeon theater introduced a new form of mass entertainment and visual storytelling, paving the way for the rise of Hollywood and the movie industry

Notable Works

• "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (1884) by Mark Twain: A satirical novel that critiques racism, conformity, and the contradictions of American society through the eyes of a young boy and a runaway slave
• "The Awakening" (1899) by Kate Chopin: A controversial novel that explores the sexual and spiritual awakening of a married woman in New Orleans, challenging traditional gender roles and societal norms
• "The Yellow Wallpaper" (1892) by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: A feminist short story that depicts the psychological breakdown of a woman confined to a room by her husband, critiquing the oppressive effects of patriarchy and the medical treatment of women's mental health
• "The Portrait of a Lady" (1881) by Henry James: A psychological novel that follows the story of a young American woman who inherits a fortune and navigates the complex social world of Europe, grappling with issues of identity, independence, and the constraints of marriage
• "The Gross Clinic" (1875) by Thomas Eakins: A realist painting that depicts a surgical operation in progress, showcasing Eakins' mastery of anatomy and his commitment to scientific accuracy and unidealized representation
• "The Haywain" (1888) by Winslow Homer: A nostalgic watercolor that depicts a rural scene of farmers harvesting hay, evoking a sense of timelessness and harmony with nature
• "The House of Mirth" (1905) by Edith Wharton: A novel that satirizes the upper-class society of New York through the story of a young woman who struggles to secure a wealthy husband and maintain her social status, ultimately leading to her downfall and tragedy

Legacy and Impact

• The realist and naturalist movements of the Gilded Age and American Renaissance paved the way for the modernist literature of the early 20th century, which further experimented with form, style, and subject matter
• The social and political critiques of the era inspired progressive reforms and legislation, such as the Pure Food and Drug Act, the Sherman Antitrust Act, and the establishment of the National Park System
• The emphasis on regionalism and local color in literature and art contributed to a greater appreciation of cultural diversity and a sense of national identity, even as the country faced ongoing struggles with racism, nativism, and sectionalism
• The rise of mass media and consumer culture in the Gilded Age set the stage for the emergence of popular entertainment and advertising in the 20th century, shaping American values, tastes, and aspirations
• The technological innovations of the era, from the railroad to the telephone to the motion picture, laid the foundation for the modern industrial and communication infrastructure of the United States
• The literary and artistic achievements of the Gilded Age and American Renaissance are now recognized as classics of American culture, studied and admired for their enduring themes, insights, and craftsmanship
  • Writers like Mark Twain, Henry James, and Edith Wharton are considered among the greatest American authors, while artists like Winslow Homer and Thomas Eakins are celebrated for their contributions to the canon of American art
• The legacy of the Gilded Age and American Renaissance continues to resonate in contemporary debates over income inequality, political corruption, immigration, and the role of art and literature in shaping public discourse and social change