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The Society of Six: California Colorists
Looks at the fifteen-year association of six California painters, discusses their approach to art and artistic influences, and includes brief profiles of each artist
- GenresArt
224 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 24, 2015
The Society of Six was a group of plein air artist friends in the San Francisco Bay Area who socialized and worked closely together, critiquing and influencing one another's styles. They were more avant-garde than most Bay Area artists, especially after seeing the various exhibits of European modernism at the Panama Pacific International Exposition of 1915. Their work was important in the development of Californian Impressionist, Colorist, and figurative expressionist painting. Their work is marked by exuberant color, in the manner of the Fauves.
Selden Gile, "San Rafael Ave, Tiburon"
William Clapp, "Path Through the Woods"
August Gay, "Canneries"
Maurice Logan, "San Francisco ferry dock"
[image error]
Louis Siegriest
Bernard von Eichman
The group centered around Selden Connor Gile, formerly of Maine, older and possessed of a large house. His friends socialized there nightly (parties were pretty raucous, apparently) and some even lived there off and on.
Of course, this idyllic stage didn't last forever.
Gay moved to Monterey, a popular area for landscape painters. Although he returned to the Bay Area frequently, his friend C.S. Price and other Monterey artists influenced his stylisticic development.
C.S Price
August Gay "Monterey Wharf"
Red von Eichman moved to New York in 1928, where he met artist Mildred Stazer, married and had children. The family eventually returned to California but due to economic pressures he never went back to art as a primary career.
Gile remained in the Bay Area but suffered from alcoholism and became increasingly moody and anti-social.
Boas does a good job here. The artists' backgrounds, their personalities, travels, interrelations, and developments are all considered. The only weakness I'd complain of is that the art of non-Society of Six artists who influenced them is minimally included in the reproductions, and then usually as a black-and-white thumbnail, which is practically useless especially when discussing color. It isn't a big deal with well-known artists such as Gauguin, but I doubt many readers have much familiarity with the works of California artists such as Price or Fortune.
But that's really just a quibble. It's a well-done study. Good assortment of plates. Recommended for those with an interest in Colorism or California art history.
Selden Gile, "San Rafael Ave, Tiburon"
William Clapp, "Path Through the Woods"
August Gay, "Canneries"
Maurice Logan, "San Francisco ferry dock"
[image error]
Louis Siegriest
Bernard von Eichman
The group centered around Selden Connor Gile, formerly of Maine, older and possessed of a large house. His friends socialized there nightly (parties were pretty raucous, apparently) and some even lived there off and on.
Of course, this idyllic stage didn't last forever.
Gay moved to Monterey, a popular area for landscape painters. Although he returned to the Bay Area frequently, his friend C.S. Price and other Monterey artists influenced his stylisticic development.
C.S Price
August Gay "Monterey Wharf"
Red von Eichman moved to New York in 1928, where he met artist Mildred Stazer, married and had children. The family eventually returned to California but due to economic pressures he never went back to art as a primary career.
Gile remained in the Bay Area but suffered from alcoholism and became increasingly moody and anti-social.
Boas does a good job here. The artists' backgrounds, their personalities, travels, interrelations, and developments are all considered. The only weakness I'd complain of is that the art of non-Society of Six artists who influenced them is minimally included in the reproductions, and then usually as a black-and-white thumbnail, which is practically useless especially when discussing color. It isn't a big deal with well-known artists such as Gauguin, but I doubt many readers have much familiarity with the works of California artists such as Price or Fortune.
But that's really just a quibble. It's a well-done study. Good assortment of plates. Recommended for those with an interest in Colorism or California art history.
March 23, 2007
Classic book. I still like Selden Gile the best.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews