Impressionism has been one of the most enduring styles of art ever produced, and its complex and often contradictory American variation has captured and held public attention for more than a century. But although French and American Impressionism share some terminology and some artistic elements, this exhibition will demonstrate that the two styles diverged quite dramatically. As American artists - often having trained in France - returned home in the late 19th century, they put a distinctly American twist on this style of painting, creating a new genre and teaching it to subsequent generations of artists.

"America’s Impressionism: Echoes of a Revolution" explores this history, bringing approximately 75 works together to show this evolution in American painting and demarcate it clearly from its European origins. The exhibit will include additional examples of work by Texas artists including paintings by Julian Onderdonk, Dawson Dawson-Watson, and José Arpa, among others, drawn either from the Museum’s collection or on loan from others.

In addition, the Museum will also present selections from the San Antonio-based Halff Collection, one of the most important collections of American Impressionism in private hands. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue published in conjunction with Yale University press, which includes a full complement of color plates and new essays by the exhibition’s curators.