George Inness

George Inness (1825–1894), American, George Inness, born on May 1, 1825, in Newburgh, New York, emerged as a pivotal figure in American landscape painting, blending the earthly with the ethereal to capture the essence of his subjects. The fifth of thirteen children in a farming family, Inness's early move to Newark, New Jersey, and brief tutelage under itinerant painter John Jesse Barker at the age of fourteen marked the beginning of his artistic journey. Initially influenced by the Hudson River School, his style evolved through exposure to the Old Masters and the Barbizon school during European travels, where he also embraced the spiritual teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg. This spiritualism deeply influenced his mature works, produced between 1879 and 1894, where he sought to depict the 'reality of the unseen.' Inness's artistry, characterized by a masterful use of light, color, and shadow, positioned him as a transitional figure between realism and impressionism. His ability to evoke mood and atmosphere through highly ordered yet complex scenes earned him acclaim as one of America's greatest artists. Often referred to as 'the father of American landscape painting,' Inness's legacy is defined by his contributions to the Tonalist movement and his development of a uniquely American artistic style. He passed away on August 3, 1894, leaving behind a prolific body of over 1,000 paintings that continue to resonate for their emotional depth and spiritual insight.