Coming of Age
American Art, 1850s to 1950s
From landscapes to abstract paintings over a period of one hundred years from 1850s to the 1950s, American art and culutre came of age, evolving from the provincial to the international and moving from literal depictions of the particular to abstract interpretations of universal ideals. This exhibition focuses on the key movements during a period in which American art matured and took its place in the international arena.
14th March - 8 June 2008

Lecture on the Exhibition by Ian Dejardin: listen to the audio podcast here »

Coming of Age - Introduction Ian Dejardin, Director, welcomes you to Coming of Age, American Art from 1850 to 1950s. Looking at landscape paintings through to the Ashcan school of painters capturing the gritty cityscape that would host American champions of modernism. America found its own language where Europe now look to for the future. Watch the movie »

		Winslow Homer The West Wind 1891 With a subtle palette of browns and greys, Homer sets a female fighting against the elements of wind and whipped up foaming sea, with confident brush strokes he portrays the wind-whipped vegetation.
		Thomas Eakins Salutat 1898 In Salutat Eakins looks at the male athlete and the rough and seedy male-only boxing arena, paying homage to the Gladiators of past. Surrounding the boxer in his victory is the audience who were made up of Eakins's own family and acquaintances.
		John Singer Sargent A Man Fishing 1906 A Man Fishing shows Sargent's technical skills as a painter of colour and skill. Two men lie lazily next to a pool fishing in hot sunshine painted in an impressionistic style showing Sargent as a consummate internationalist.
		John Sloane Sunday, Women Drying their hair 1912 Showing a slice of urban American life Sloane captures a snap shot of women on a hot Sunday pruning themselves while enjoying the sun, surrounded by laundry and high-rise buildings.
		Edward Hopper Manhatten Bridge Loop, 1928 Strong horizontal lines, and vertical buildings and just one man showing any sign of life in this hot oppresive city scape.
		Patrick Henry Bruce Peinture/Nature morte, 1924 Bruce turned the domestic still life, in this case a table, into a vibrant symphony of colour and vibrance
		Stuart Davis Red Cart, 1932 Davis takes the theme of this painting from the docks of Gloucester, Massachusetts. A place he loved for its ready made backdrop for his Cubist explorations.
		Jackson Pollock Phosphorescence, 1947 Pollock looks at painting then starts from scratch and explores the unkown, unafraid to ask the big question of what a painting could be.
		Addison Gallery, Andover, Massachusetts Since its opening some seventy-five years ago the Addison Gallery of American Art has been defined by the exceptional quality and range of its collections. Dulwich Picture Gallery shows 70 great paintings on loan from this great and important gallery.