Untitled

Edward Bannister’s intimate views of the American landscape contrasted with the large vistas of mountains and canyons painted by many of his contemporaries. In this study of a sunset, the glowing tones of orange and yellow immediately draw us into the center of the image, as if we are standing among the dark, skeletal trees. The warm light softly highlights a pathway through the trees, and to the right we can see the faint outline of a building. Bannister’s thick paint, expressive brushstrokes, and vibrant contrasts of light and dark convey a dramatic scene, even on the small scale of a sketch. We feel, in looking at this study, that we were with Bannister as he stopped to capture a poetic moment on his evening walk.

February is Black History Month and we are very happy we can feature great Black artists.  :)  Bannister was an oil painter of the American Barbizon school (learn about the Barbizon school's Parisian origins). Born in Canada, he spent his adult life in New England in the United States. There he was a prominent member of African American cultural and political communities, such as the Boston abolition movement. 

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