Curator's Corner

Vacation: Leisure Time in Art

Hudson River School lithography painting photography poster stamps Snapshot Aesthetic social realism Ukiyo-e vacation women artists women photographers woodcut
By Karl Cole, posted on Jul 29, 2013

Since vacation is on everyone’s mind now that summer is in full swing, let’s just look at works of art that spout vacation, special day off, or festival. And, yes, this can be an art historical exercise too!

Thomas Cole (1801–1848, United States), The Picnic, 1846.
Thomas Cole (1801–1848, United States), The Picnic, 1846. Oil on canvas, 48" x 72" (122 x 183 cm) © Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY. (BMA-48)

 

Thomas Cole—yes he’s an ancestor of mine—is my favorite of the Hudson River School artists because he brings the “romantic” into the style of Romantic Realism. The Picnic is a perfect example of nostalgia for the American wilderness that was rapidly disappearing at the time (see my post from July 15th for more about nostalgia in art). My favorite part of this painting is the clouds, which remind me of Dutch Baroque landscape painting in which clouds always figure importantly. Is this the classical reference to thought?

 

Salomon van Ruysdael (1600/1603–1670, Netherlands), Castle on a River, 1644.
Salomon van Ruysdael (1600/1603–1670, Netherlands), Castle on a River, 1644. Oil on wood, 39.3 x 60.5 cm. © Cleveland Museum of Art. (CL-64)

 

William Laughlead (dates unknown, United States), Poster stamp for vacation land in Minnesota, early 1900s.
William Laughlead (dates unknown, United States), Poster stamp for vacation land in Minnesota, early 1900s. Color lithograph on adhesive paper. © Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE. (WIN-162)

 

The phenomenon of “poster stamps” raged in the early 1900s. They were stuck on packages being shipped, advertising mailings, brochures, and pamphlets. It is such an interesting part of design history, especially since they reflected the artistic styles of the day. This one reflects an Art Nouveau aesthetic.

 

Torii Kiyonaga (1752–1815, Japan), Children at the Chrysanthemum Festival, 1793–1798.
Torii Kiyonaga (1752–1815, Japan), Children at the Chrysanthemum Festival, 1793–1798. Woodcut, 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10 1/4"). © Philadelphia Museum of Art. (PMA-1743)

 

The chrysanthemum is the national flower of Japan. It figures prominently in the debate in Japan about the merits of spring and autumn gardens. The Chrysanthemum Festival in the fall elicits beautiful arrangements of the flower, but also encourages contemplation on the possibility of snow falling on the fading blossoms. This print shows children preparing (in a manner) for the festival.

 

Marion Post Wolcott (1910–1990, United States), Winter Tourists, 1940.
Marion Post Wolcott (1910–1990, United States), Winter Tourists, 1940. Gelatin silver print, 21.1 x 26.9 cm (8 5/16" x 10 9/16"). Photo © The Museum of Modern Art, New York. (MOMA-P3249)

 

Like many artists who matured during the Great Depression (1929–1940), Marion Post Wolcott was interested in the human experience. This image of a couple on a beach in Massachusetts is an example of the frank lack of money to travel except to nearby locales. Even in winter it’s nice to get away!

 

Robert Gwathmey (1903–1988, United States), The Vacationist.
Robert Gwathmey (1903–1988, United States), The Vacationist. Oil on canvas, 149.9 x 98.7 cm (59” x 38 7/8"). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY. © 2013 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. (BMA-902gwvg)

 

I leave you with Robert Gwathmey’s depiction of a tourist on the outer banks of North Carolina. Gwathmey was a social realist from Virginia who was keenly interested in daily life, particularly of African Americans. Here he represents an uber-tanned tourist with his catch for the day.