Art Appreciation
Considered one of the most significant American artists of the 20th century, Andrew Wyeth is known for his realistic and expressive depiction of rural American life.
Born on July 12, 1917, in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, Wyeth was the youngest of five children of illustrator and artist Newell Covers Wyeth and Carolyn Bockius Wyeth. He began drawing and was a draftsman before he could read. Andrew began painting at a young age and studied under America's popular illustrator Howard Pyle.
Like his father, Andrew appreciated intellectuals such poet Robert Frost and writer Henry David Thoreau -- two who would have influence in his paintings. Additionally, silent-films with orchestra added to his artistic sensitivity, such as King Vidor's The Big Parade (1925).
One of Wyeth's most famous works is Christina's World, painted in 1948. The painting features a young woman, Christina Olson, who he met through his wife, Betsey James, gazing out over a field towards a weathered farmhouse. It depicts Christina's isolation and struggle navigating the landscape, making it an iconic representation of American rural life.
Wyeth continued to paint throughout his life, often returning to the same subjects and landscapes for inspiration. His works are known for their emotional depth and evocative power, and his attention to detail and mastery of the medium have made him a celebrated figure in the world of art.
In 1963, Wyeth received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President John F. Kennedy, the first artist to ever receive such honor. President George W. Bush honored Wyeth with the National Medal of Arts in 2007.
Sources:
Wikipedia
https://www.wikiart.org/en/andrew-wyeth
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2020/04/28/betsy-wyeth-wife-and-collaborator-to-andrew-wyeth-has-died-aged-98
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/jan/19/andrew-wyeth-obituary
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