John Twachtman

An American impressionist painter.

He was a member of the art group “Ten”, which united progressive American painters. After receiving a comprehensive art education in Europe, John Twachtman devoted most of his paintings to his native Connecticut, depicting landscapes and scenes of the everyday life of Americans. The artist masterfully used the color and, despite the significant influence of French Impressionists, he managed to develop his own original style of painting. Twachtman was engaged in pedagogical and teaching activities. He led painting classes at the Davenek School and courses in the Art Student League (USA).

Key ideas:

– The vast majority of the works of John Twachtman are landscapes. The artist loved to depict the beauty of his native country at different times of the year. The plots of his paintings are incredibly simple: a stream in the winter forest, a snow-covered manor, a bridge over the river and even cabbage beds. All this is depicted on the canvases of the artist in an easy impressionistic manner, which is characterized by bright individual features and its own character.

– The artist rarely depicts people in his works, concentrating all attention on the changeable and multifaceted nature. Views of Connecticut, depicted by Twachtman, are filled with delicate harmony; these are calm and peaceful works in soft colors. The artist mostly painted winter landscapes. His rivulets encased in ice and lonely streams isolated from the outside world, in no way show the presence of a man.

– For Twachtman, the main task of the works was to convey all the subtle moments of the state of nature, to depict the slightest breaths of the wind and the play of sunlight. The artist cares not about what exactly to depict, but how to depict it and how much truly he could show what he saw to the viewer.