The Power of "Ten": John Henry Twachtman and the American Impressionists, late 19th Century

"Winter in Cincinnati" is an early work by a prolific American Impressionist, John Henry Twachtman, painted prior to is formal art training in Europe.

He painted landscapes, dreamy snow scenes like this.

Considering the artist only lived to about 50, he was very productive. In 1898, just a few years before his death, he and other American Impressionists banded together to promote and display their works (considered very modern at the time.) The group was called "The Ten".

Leon Kroll: Prolific American Painter of the Early and Mid 20th Century...and naked ladies.

You won't guess from Kroll's many landscapes and interesting city scenes featuring New York City in the early years of the century; later on, Life Magazine dubbed him "the dean of the nude" painters for his multitude of languid ladies posed nude on various pieces of furniture.

"West Shore Terminal" was one in the "ash can school", featuring gritty, industrial and transportation scenes from the period. Another version of this painting (not in the Orlando Museum) was this exact scene, painted in "summer clothes".

The artist lived from 1884-1974.

De Scott Evans: A Victorian Painter with a Tragic End

This American painter, who only survived into his 40's, has a painting in the Orlando Museum of Art.
"From the Kitchen Window": we see the detail of a 19th Century moment as the woman (mother, servant, older sister?) apparently reacts to the arrival or departure of someone outside. We are set back from the action (visually) by the length of floor space. The light is so soft, muted, pearl-like.
Even the baby is interested to see what is happening; the cat wonders too. So there is a quiet tension, somehow.

The painter worked with interiors like this, still life, portrait, etc.

Evans, along with his three daughters, was lost in the shipwreck of the SS La Bourgogne in 1898; the ship was a fairly new and fast steamer, hit in fog by a sailing vessel. Huge loss of life for the time, about 500; it was an elite ship, used by wealthy people for relatively speedy transport to and from Europe.

The Orlando Museum of Art in a Rain Storm: Something Besides Theme Parks

We spent the morning at the Orlando Museum of Art.

It is not too large, so easily toured in a leisurely morning. The museum owns a well rounded collection of older American landscape and portraits paintings, modern, Native American, African artifacts and special temporary installations.

We seem to enjoy discovering the 19th Century American regional painters of landscapes from the period. That seems to be our comfort level.

Then, it is interesting to stretch the boundaries with more modern pieces. I don't necessarily "like" this type of experience, but "making us think" is fine, too. Mostly, I think I like my old landscapes.
But certainly, I am willing to look at something new.