What Is American Garden Impressionism?
American garden impressionism originates around the time of the Progressive Era (1890s-1920s). This was known as a time of rapid change, not only in the art world but also in America's social and political climate (2). Americans were full of anxiety over the mass immigration from Europe, the women's suffrage movement, and the disruptive force of WWI (2). In addition to these fears, the middle class was evolving into a major section of American society. This class aspired to leave its mark on America at the same time as French impressionist painting styles were emerging (2). The landscape that this new class of artists referenced was that of the garden cities. The expansion of railroads outside of cities bolstered the development of middle-class suburbs and a need for the creation of public parks and garden cultivation (2).
These amateur gardeners produced gardens that differed from their European counterparts: they were wild and unruly, not the refined environments of the European Gilded Age elite (3). They displayed this difference with patriotic pride. However, patriotism often comes at the heels of nationalism and its prejudicial and ostracizing tendencies. As a backlash against European immigration, many Americans embraced "nativism" in their gardens. This was the celebration of plants and animals with an origin on American soil, these species often finding their way into paintings (3).
Many American painters studied impressionism in France (this style being characterized by loose brushstrokes and vibrant colors rather than a more photorealistic approach). Yet, other than a few exceptions, these American painters took on their own distinctive interpretation of the style (4). Women were also a frequent subject matter within these garden paintings, featuring much more prominently than their European counterparts, which suggests more dominance in garden spaces (ix). Their clothing was depicted as much more simple with practical: white dresses with "elegant practicality" (ix).
Ultimately, American garden impressionism comes with its own distinct styles and interpretations, and a charged sociopolitical history that warrants more exposure in the art world. It is complementary to European impressionism rather than a step below it.
Source: Marley, Anna O. The Artist's Garden: American Impressionism and the Garden Movement. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 2015.