Columbus Museum Presents ~ 'Tracing the Nation'

Thursday, 23 August 2007 20:04

COLUMBUS, GA - Tracing the Nation celebrates the Columbus Museum’s acquisition of a major private collection of American drawings—one that now distinguishes the museum as among the most significant repositories for American drawing in the country. The featured works were originally assembled by legendary collector Paul Magriel, and subsequently acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Flom, of New York. On public view for the first time, the 105 sheets represent rare and important examples of American master drawing by some of the nation’s most prominent artists, including John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Thomas Moran, Theodore Robinson, Isabel Bishop and Eastman Johnson. On exhibition August 26-November 11, 2007.

The exhibited works celebrate the rich history of American drawing from the late 18th through the 20th century and the many ways in which artists have used the medium to portray the nation’s evolving character. The Columbus Museum defines drawing as any unique work on paper, and the exhibition represents the great variety of approaches to drawing such as pencil, charcoal, watercolor, gouache, pastel, ink and silverpoint.

One of the principal motives for the acquiring the 105 works featured in Tracing the Nation is that they strengthen the Museum’s collection in several ways. First, they add depth to the Museum’s relatively few drawings produced before 1850. Second, they include great works by key American masters such as John Vanderlyn, William Sidney Mount, Frederic Church and James Abbott McNeill Whistler whose drawings were not represented in the Museum’s collection and which are nearly impossible to find in today’s art market. Works by Thomas Sully, Thomas Hovenden, Eastman Johnson and Theodore Robinson complement major paintings by artists already in the Museum’s collection. Other drawings in the acquisition enable the Museum to represent the work of key artists in depth—two sheets by John Singer Sargent, Mrs. Thursbye and Madame Helleu, represent the first Sargent figure drawings acquired by the Museum and stand as an important complement to the Museum’s Sargent watercolor, Spanish Window. Winslow Homer’s pencil drawing, Head of a Girl, represents the artist’s important period in England during 1881-1882, and now joins the Museum’s charcoal drawing by Homer, Pond Lilies, done on American soil in 1884.

Tracing the Nation is grouped according to several major themes. European Traditions includes drawings that date to the nation’s early years by European-trained Americans. Works featured in A New and United Country define the nation’s identity through its unique landscape and people. American Renaissance and Cosmopolitan Outlook consists of drawings that reflect American artists’ involvement in international art movements such as Impressionism. Progressive and Avant-Garde Artists focuses on works by Ash Can School artists and others who broke away from academic tradition and paved the way for modern movements of the 20^th century. Regionalism, Social Realism and Post-War Modernism includes images by later artists who portrayed American life during a time of great economic and political uncertainty along with adventurous images by artists seeking to explore the expressive possibilities of abstraction.

Tracing the Nation demonstrates the essential role drawing has played in the formation and development of American art. While representing an overview of American art, this selection of works attests to the unique properties of drawing and its status as the most intimate, immediate and versatile art medium.

For more information, please visit www.columbusmuseum.com .

You can also call the Columbus Museum at 706.748.2562. The Columbus Museum features exhibitions of American art and regional history and includes a hands-on discovery gallery for children. Admission is free. The Museum is open 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Thursday; and 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday and holidays. 1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus, GA 31906