Field Trip: The Art Institute of Chicago

York Harbor, Cost of Maine by Martin Johnson Heade, 1877, Oil on canvas

I gave myself an assignment today: Find works of art that fit the criteria for Evidence-based Art within the Art Institute of Chicago.

This is what I looked for:

• Waterscapes (Calm or Non-turbulent Water)
• Landscapes (with visual depth or open foreground, trees with broad canopy, Savannah Landscapes, verdant Vegetation, or positive cultural artifacts)

Among the hundreds of paintings I surveyed, most did not fit the bill, but I did find 5 that worked. Of those, one stood out as meeting most of he criteria listed above. It is pictured above. The artist Martin Johnson Heade, a name I did not know.

The audio tour described this as a prime example of Luminism.  Luminism is an American style of painting characterized by a strongly horizontal canvas, tight invisible brushwork; and pervasive light. The audio tour said that in looking at this painting "you should feel yourself slow down." It did have that effect on me. There was an appealing stillness and calm in this painting that I think would make it work particularly well in a patient's room.

As I searched the Internet for information on this painting I found a site that will sell you a copy of this painting for only $189. Seems like a bargain to me if it is done well. Click here for the link.

The photo above was taken with my iPhone.