Luminous Landscapes

The term “luminism” was coined in the mid 20th century by John Bauer—then director of the Whitney Museum—to describe the painting style of a group of 19th century artists whose landscape works radiated a unique clarity of light. Painters like Martin Johnson Heade, Fitz Henry Lane, and others featured in this playlist, created beautiful, realistic visions of the American landscape in a time when photography was gaining more prominence as a medium.