The Hudson River has inspired artists, giving its name to an American genre of paintings that came to define how the new nation saw itself in relation to the natural world. In the mid-1800s, a group of American painters, schooled in Europe, based in New York, turned their focus to the theme of the natural landscape to demonstrate the beauty of the wilderness. Their work enjoyed a popular national success that no other group of artists has achieved since. This seminal survey of the artists marks the first presentation of the outstanding collection at the New-York Historical Society. It features works by all the greatest artists of the group, including Thomas Cole, Asher Durand, Albert Bierstadt, and Frederic Church.
Dr. Linda S. Ferber is the Senior Art Historian and Museum Director Emerita at the New-York Historical Society.
The Hudson River is much more than a body of water. The Hudson has been the home for humans and hundreds of species of fish, birds, and plants for centuries. Our exhibition, Hudson Rising, reflects on how human activity has impacted the river and, in turn, how the river environment has shaped art, industrial development, commerce, tourism, and environmental awareness. On view March 1 – August 2, 2019.
