National Museum of American Art

The National Museum of American Art is "dedicated to the art and artists who have contributed to our cultural heritage" which "provides insight into who we are as a people" writes Elizabeth Broun, the museum's director, in the foreward to this book. Even though this book has between its covers only 1% of the museum's gigantic collection, it has a dazzling assortment of work for those interested in art made in the U.S.A.The Introduction is written by William Kloss, and has a history of the museum, with its many building revisions, now housed in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C.Divided into 9 "themes", it starts with "Early America", with the work of John Singleton Copley (1738-1815). There is a quote from the artist, his portrait of Mrs. George Watson, and an explanation of the piece by contributor Richard Murray of the National Museum. Most of the artists/works displayed follow this format throughout the book. This first chapter also includes work by John James Audubon, Thomas Moran, and some of the remarkable artists who depicted American Indian culture, like George Catlin.Chapter 2 is "Tradition", which includes two of my favorite artists, Albert Pinkham Ryder, with his magical, visionary paintings, and the mastery of Winslow Homer.Chapter 3: "20th Century Life", starts with Maurice Prendegast, has a section of Southwestern art, "Urban Views", and "The New Deal". 5 pieces by William H. Johnson, brilliantly depicting African-American imagery, are the centerpiece of this chapter, which also includes the work of several photographers.Chapter 4, "People", spans many centuries, with portraits ranging from Charles Wilson Peale's "Mrs. James Smith and Grandson", to Chicano artist Jesse Treviño's "Mis Hermanos".Chapter 5: "Spirit and Religion", is a short chapter that includes a stunning Andrew Wyeth piece, "Dodge's Ridge", that I have not seen published elsewhere. Chapter 6 is "Folk Art", whimsical, brilliant work by "untrained artists". The museum started to incorporate these pieces into their inventory in 1986, adding a marvelous dimension to their collection.Chapter 7: "Modern Art", starts with the sumptuous Max Webber "Summer", and ends with the sculpture of Bryan Hunt.Chapter 8: "Craft Objects", includes an array of glass, wood, fiber, and mixed media, some of them useful, like George Nakashima's beautiful walnut and hickory "Conoid Bench".Chapter 9: "Contemporary Voices", starting with the cover piece, Luis Jimenez's vibrant sculpture "Vaquero", has a wide variety of styles and media, reflecting the art of the last three decades.Though there are some notable omissions (Jackson Pollock, Milton Avery, and Mark Rothko come to mind), this is an excellent overview of some of America's greatest artists, with good color reproduction, and thick glossy pages, and truly does "delight the reader's eye".