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Period: to
The Gilded Age
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Mark Twain - "The Gilded Age"
Mark Twain, along with Charles Dudley Warner, published "The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today", which coined the term that would eventually define the post-war era that fostered a new sense of cultural identity for America. Originally written as a seething satire of the corruption and greed that was prominent in society at the time, the Gilded Age eventually became synonymous with rapid economic growth, a population boom, rampant poverty, and a progressive attitude toward art and technology. -
The Brooklyn Bridge
Designed by John Roebling, and opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was regarded as the truest depiction of creativity in post-war America during the era known as the Gilded Age. Roebling, a recent immigrant from Germany, represented the significant role and inspiring achievements being made by the thousands of new arrivals in America. The bridge quickly became a symbol of optimism, and further promoted the expansion of New York culture by allowing easier access between the boroughs. -
The Haymarket Affair
A Chicago worker's strike in Haymarket Square, which aimed to establish better working conditions and an eight-hour work day, ended when a bomb is thrown. Six police officers are killed, and over sixty bystanders are injured during the rally. The national influence of the Knights of Labor, the collective responsible for the violence, is rapidly diminished, and the effects are felt in New York City, where the demand for better labor practices had been causing similar unrest. -
The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty was erected on Liberty Island, formerly Bedloe's Island, in New York harbor. The neoclassical sculpture was designed by Frederick Barthoudldi as a gift from France, despite controversy and financial worries during its construction. While originally an anti-slavery message, with a broken chain laying at the lady's feet, by the end of the century, it was to become a symbol for freedom in the United States, and a welcoming icon to millions of immigrants entering the country. -
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The Ashcan School
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World's Columbian Exposition
Also known as the Chicago World's Fair, the exposition opened for six months to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World. Visited by over 25 million people, the event marked a new embrace of contemporary life in America. Art and technology presented during the fair marked a radical turning point in the way the country accepted its changing values, social strengths, and cultural identity. For many Americans, the Exposition ushered in the Modern Age. -
Robert Henri - "Snow in New York"
A founder of the Ashcan School, Robert Henri's painting reflects his influence from European artists, most notably Manet. A typical representation of the Ashcan School, the work depicts an urban reality using darker colors and a street-level perspective. The stark portrayal of a common New York scene exemplified the movement's focus on the mundane aspects of city life, and deviated from the more refined nature of contemporary art during the period. -
Upton Sinclair - "The Jungle"
Novelist and journalist Upton Sinclair's novel was a portrayal of the exploitation and unfair treatment of immigrants in the United States.Often considered a muckraker, Sinclair was met with both controversy and astonishment regarding the novel's depiction of harsh working conditions that immigrants endured without government regulations to prevent this unethical treatment. By exposing these practices, the novel was instrumental in bringing awareness to the struggles of the average worker. -
John Sloan - "McSorley's Bar"
John French Sloan would regularly meet with other members of the Ashcan School in an Irish pub known as McSorley's Bar in New York City. This painting reflected the establishment's working-class clientele who would gather around the wooden bar following a hard day's work. Sloan's paintings, like other members of "The Eight", captured the daily lives of the city's inhabitants and often featured the middle or lower classes as their primary focus. This particular work remained unsold until 1932. -
International Exhibition of Modern Art
Known by some as "The Armory Show", this exhibition was the largest display of modern art in America at the time. The show was a monumental event for American art, as it introduced the public to the avante-garde, styles largely influenced by contemporary European artists. The event showcased Cubism, Fauvism, and Futurism, alongside many works by the Ashcan School. The show would have a profound effect on the art world, and is regarded by historians as the dawn of modernism in America.
