Shown is “Christina’s World” by Andrew Wyeth. The simple, humble pastoral painting is typical of a Wyeth painting. However, when you find out the girl in the painting was a neighbor of Wyeth crippled by polio and against using a wheelchair, the picture takes on a world of different meanings. Image provided.

By Darla McCammon
and DeeAnna Muraski
Guest Columnists

Darla McCammon and DeeAnna Muraski

WARSAW — Our series on American artists through the centuries continues into the 1990s. The optimistic ’80s took a downturn during the end of the decade and into the early ’90s. The stock market crash and recession caused fear, crippling the populace and consequently the economy. However, the fall of the Berlin Wall and end of the Cold War inspired and created hope, which rippled across the world. Accessibility to the worldwide web added to the boom, increasing connectivity amongst people and countries.

We start off the decade with George H.W. Bush as president and an unsuccessful assassination attempt — before the 10-year span is up, there will be 14 presidents around the world assassinated. The decade ends with Bill Clinton being elected for a second term. Paula Jones’ sexual harassment lawsuit against Clinton and his affair with 22-year-old intern Monica Lewinsky led to President Clinton’s impeachment. We encounter drastic, devastating internal attacks with the World Trade Center truck bomb, Oklahoma City bombings, Centennial Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta and Columbine High School killings. Due to vast availability of the internet, the entire world got to witness the trial of O.J. Simpson on two first-degree murder charges in the death of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, who is alleged to have tried to stop the attacker but also was killed. Cell phone technology was emerging, albeit with super-large bag phones, but we were thankful to lug around the extra battery packs and massive antenna on our vehicles. Americans were stunned with the heartbreaking, unexpected death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in a paparazzi-induced vehicle crash in 1997. Tragically, we also lost American royalty: John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife and sister-in-law during a vacation flight to Martha’s Vineyard on a private plane piloted by JFK Jr. We ended the decade in abject fear of Y2K, a computer calendar glitch, which would purportedly decimate computer programs, banking programs, etc. Yet, through all of this, the resiliency of America sustained and remained.

Our artist of the week, Andrew Wyeth, also had a very long and enduring artistic legacy for his life of 91 years and gleaned from the genius of his father, Newell Convers Wyeth (N.C. Wyeth). Both were enduring artists who are a feather in the cap of our American art portfolio.

Andrew Wyeth was born in 1917 in Pennsylvania, a state whose beauty he continued to capture in his artwork throughout his life. Wyeth was deemed a realist and regionalist artist. If you recall from our prior articles, realist in a nutshell, means to paint what is tangible and not imagined. Regionalist is drawing from what you see in the areas around you. These artists tend to do a wonderful job of capturing the culture and essence of their time period. Andrew was the youngest of five children.

Andrew was home-schooled by his father, N.C. Wyeth, who was famous for his illustrations that brought “Treasure Island” to life. N.C. taught Andrew how to mix the paints by adding water and egg to create different textures. Since their styles and techniques were very similar, Andrew stuck with his unique paint blend for the rest of his life to differentiate from his father’s oil paintings. Thankfully, Andrew was an observant and quick study as his father, N.C., was killed along with his namesake grandchild by a train on a track close to their home. Prior to N.C.’s death, N.C. and Andrew were able to complete several art showings together. After his father’s unforeseen death, Andrew was skilled enough to finish several commissioned designs N.C. had looming.

Due to the extensive training and expert instruction by N.C., Andrew did not receive formalized art instruction. A fact, upon studying Andrew’s artwork, which seems highly debatable as the design, perspective, shading and artistry are on equal footing of old masters. Adding to the case are the immense numbers of American and international awards proffered, including the esteemed Presidential Medal of Freedom. His work continues to bring in record attendance at museums and is displayed in every prominent museum in the United States and many abroad. The Wyeth three generations of artwork spans our Art in America series and visually tells the story of our country’s best features: the people, towns and landscapes.

To Read

“An American Vision: Three Generations of Wyeth Art” by James H. Duff. Showcasing the art and stories of N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth and Jamie Wyeth.

To Go

N. C. Wyeth House and Studio. In 1997, it was designated a National Historic Landmark District. Located in Chadds Ford, Pa., and opened to the public in 2012. There are walking trails open between the N.C. Wyeth house and Andrew Wyeth Studio. Four daily guided tours are available on Wednesdays through Sunday. Virtual tours are also accessible.

Chadds Ford Studio. Andrew Wyeth’s studio, created from an original schoolhouse. The studio is part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Four daily guided tours are available on Wednesday and Friday through Sunday.

Darla McCammon is an artist, columnist and author. DeeAnna Muraski is executive director of Operation Read USA Inc. Send an email to the mother/daughter team at [email protected].