Afternoon respite

Mabel May Woodward, born on September 28, 1877, in Providence, Rhode Island, emerged as a distinguished American impressionist painter, leaving a lasting mark on the art world until her passing on August 14, 1945. Her upbringing in a prosperous family afforded her exceptional art education, culminating in her graduation with highest honors from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 1896. Woodward further honed her craft at the Art Students League of New York under the tutelage of William Merritt Chase, Kenyon Cox, and Frank Duveneck, and at the Ogunquit Art Colony in Maine with Arthur Wesley Dow and Charles Woodbury. Woodward's career was as vibrant as her paintings. She dedicated over two decades to teaching at RISD, where she innovated the 'action class,' focusing on the human figure in motion. Her artistic legacy is deeply intertwined with the Providence Art Club, where she broke barriers as its first woman president. Woodward's oeuvre, heavily influenced by impressionism, is celebrated for its vibrant use of color and dynamic brushwork. Early works feature serene garden scenes with women and girls, while her later paintings capture the lively essence of New England beaches, showcasing her mastery of light and shadow. Summers in Ogunquit, Maine, inspired many of these luminous beach scenes, reflecting her deep connection to the region's natural beauty.