For years I’ve called myself a Photo Impressionist and even named this blog accordingly. Outside of being a really neat moniker to hang on one’s photographic style, I had no idea what I meant by the term until a friend gave me a book called Pennsylvania Impressionism.
The book is about the artists who lived in and around New Hope during the early 20th century and painted the Delaware River and the Bucks County landscape in their own impressionist style. This style is sometimes called the New Hope School of Landscape Painting or Pennsylvania Impressionism. I knew some of the artists’ work but never saw a group of them lumped together in a large collection.
Seeing painting after painting of the river and the area I grew up in by artists like William Lathrop, John Folinsbee, Daniel Garber and others was an extremely cathartic experience. I finally understand the deep feeling of Impressionism much more than I ever could by studying the works of Monet, Degas and the rest of the gang of French Impressionists. France being a place I have no ties to and know little about. There is something about the way the Pennsylvania Impressionists treated these familiar waterways and scenery that moved me.
Below is my first truly Photo Impressionist image of the Tohickon Creek along with some similar works by the Pennsylvania Impressionists. I realize now that this style is more than simply adding abstract textures and colors that look impressionistic to a photograph. It is a result of deeply relating to, understanding and even loving a landscape.
The Delaware River and all of its the little creeks and tributaries are special places to me. I hope to add my “impression” of these to the works of the artists who noticed these places long before I did. Enjoy.
Tohickon Creek by Richard Lewis, 2013
Tochickon Scene by Daniel Garber, 1920
Woodland Brook by Edward Redfield, ca. 1914
Neshaminy Banks by Roy Nuse, 1930
Roberts Mill (on the Delaware River) by John Folinsbee, 1940
Like this photograph? Feel free to visit my photography website and see more of my images
I have always seen your photographic art as a part of nature and as delivering deep impressions of her soul. Having stomped through many of the same foothills and marshes, creeks and riverbeds as you have I truly feel the earth in your work. You gotta love those Pennsylvanian Impressionists. Not only did they depict the best pieces of the River Valley; they lived in some of the nicest homes and hamlets along its lay.
Thanks Tom for the compliment and the Pennsylvania Impressionism book. I do wonder what the area most have been like in the early 20th century for staving artists to be able to purchase such nice homes.
Thanks for the reference material…. really like d.garber and r.nuse. i never knew there was a movement in painting in New Hope. I am not sure I can place my style any where in history…. probably pre-monolithic… 🙂
I now have cause to seek out these artists!!!!
My pleasure Mike, I’m glad this perspective was helpful. I agree with your choices of artists but Folinsbee and Lathrop are pretty cool too. Don’t sell you style short, it is pretty darn good.
Thank you for posting these paintings. The one by Daniel Garber is an example of the “look” I am trying to get with some of my photographs.
You are very welcome Ben. One of the things I love about your work is that it is naturally impressionistic and at times it does look like Garber was giving you a few pointers.