Potthast - "Sewing, Central Park" Impressionism crayon artwork on bristol board of 2 women sewing in central park

Edward Potthast • American: 1857-1927

Sewing, Central Park • Crayon on Bristol Board 11” x 15”

100 years ago, in a quiet corner of New York’s Central Park, two women sat on a bench and enjoyed each others company while sewing. It was a bright, summer day and they enjoyed the sounds of children playing in the open field behind them. They were so engrossed in their work that they never even noticed a shy, older man seated on the lawn just a few yards away.

Edward Potthast had visited the park that day quickly sketching this light, peaceful scene that contrasted with the darker German and Dutch-influenced works Potthast first built his career upon. Styles as different as New York and Cincinnati. Both cities played a large role in his life.

Cincinnati born and educated, Potthast first left the city at the age of 24, traveling to Antwerp, Munich and Paris to further his art education. He mimicked artists of the Munich School whose paintings were draftsman-like, dark and thickly painted. Potthast was immersed in this style before returning home to Cincinnati where he continued his career in lithography.

Then he left for a second trip to Europe and everything changed.

(story continues below break)

INTERESTING STORIES FROM OUR SPONSORS

Potthast fell under the influence of impressionist painters in Paris and Grcz (that’s right, no vowels) an artists colony. His artistic vision changed to the cool-toned studies of light favored by Impressionists.

Returning to Cincinnati, Potthast carved out a modestly successful art career, but his world had shifted too far on its axis. At the age of 40 he moved to New York. There this unmarried, extremely private man became a well known painter of pastoral scenes. He spent summer months at seaside art colonies, nurturing a love of seascapes and beach scenes. And, on days when the beach was too far from his Manhattan studio, he made do with similarly pastoral scenes in Central Park, which one bright, sunny day brought him into the lives of two contented seamstresses sitting on a quiet bench in the corner of the park.

This slice of American life is still alive, at the Canton Museum of Art.

Canton Museum of Art Permanent Collection • From the James C. and Barbara J. Koppe Collection, 86.12

4 Ways to Sound Smart When Viewing at The Canton Museum of Art

1.
“You know, Potthast is still considered one of the leading painters of beach scenes in American history. Consider it an off-shoot of American Scene painting.”

2.
“At his death, Potthast was part owner of the famous Gainesborough Art Studio in New York City.”

3.
“He was amazed to have one of his very early Impressionist-style paintings included in the Paris Salon of 1889. He started painting in this style in the same year.”

4.
“Potthast was one of a large number of turn-of-the-century artists whose early work years were spent as lithographers.”

Potthast Timeline. Scroll over images to see timeline.

1857

Born in Cincinnati to two craft-oriented people. His father was a chair and cabinet maker, while his mother worked in a millinery store.

1879-81

Studied at the McMicken School of Design (now part of the University of Cincinnati) with famed portrait and landscape painter, Thomas Satterwhite Noble who favored dark colors and a highly realistic, painterly technique.

1881

Saved up money to take his first trip to Europe. Over the next four years he studied art with Polydore Beaufaux and Charles Verlat in Antwerp. He then studied at the Royal Academy in Munich, a long-time destination for Cincinnati artists.

1885

Returned to Cincinnati and his studies with Noble at McMicken and a realistic painting style heavily influenced by the dark, thick colors of the Munich School which was, itself, heavily influenced by the Dutch painting tradition.

1886

Returned to Europe, this time spending most of his time in Paris studying with Fernand Cormon.

1889

Visited Grcz artist colony where he met, and was heavily influenced by, Irish Impressionist Roderic O’Conor and American Impressionist artist, Robert Vonnoh. He adopted their cool-toned studies of light’s effect on objects and landscapes. His painting Sunshine was accepted to the Paris Salon of 1889. He returned to Cincinnati in the same year.

1894

Potthast was the only American artist included in the exhibition, Light Pictures, at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

1895

Left Cincinnati to establish a new home and career in New York City.

1899

Elected an Associate of the National Academy of Design where he had exhibited work since 1897. In the same year he won the Academy’s Thomas B. Clarke prize for best figure painting. Was named a full academician in 1906.

1800-1927

Established a highly successful art studio in New York, spent summer months at a number of seaside art colonies in Massachusetts and Maine.

1927

Died of a heart attack, alone, in his New York Studio.