California Impressionism

Motivated by a desire to capture “impressions” of everyday life, French Impressionism debuted in the late 19th century. Their innovations, which included working outdoors to capture the impact of light on landscapes and objects, inspired a group of 20th century artists to paint the distinctive light and landscapes of California. While most of the artists associated with California Impressionism were men, Annie Harmon was known for her atmospheric paintings of foggy California hillsides and coastal ranges. Few of her works remain since nearly 400 of them were lost in a studio fire after the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake. A Midwesterner by birth, Marion Wachtel began her studies at the Art Institute of Chicago followed by a stint in New York studying with William Merritt Chase. An art commission from the Santa Fe Railroad Company brought her to California in 1903, where she remained for the rest of her life.

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