Impressionism and post-impressionism in the Art Institute of Chicago /

Wood (Art Institute of Chicago) has long been active in the Institute's publishing program, e.g., Master Paintings in the Art Institute of Chicago (2nd ed., 1999) and The Art Institute of Chicago: Twentieth-Century Painting and Sculpture (1996). In the volume under review, individual authors include John Goodman, Adam Jolles, Paula R. Lupkin, Debra N. Mancoff, and Britt Salversen. Besides selecting the nearly 150 paintings, drawings, and sculptures, Wood wrote the short introductions to the sections "Before Impressionism," discussing 55 works of Constable, Turner, Corot, Troyon, Whistler, Homer, Jongkind, Boudin, Manet, Bazille, Millet, Cassatt, Pissarro, Courbet, Fantin-Latour, Monet, Morisot; "The French Impressionist Circle," 25 works of Armand Guillaumin, Renoir, Manet, Morisot, Degas, Sisley, Monet, Caillebotte, Cassatt, Pissarro, Cezanne, Rodin, Gonzal`es, Morisot, Seurat; "Impressionism Outside France," 40 works of Sargent, Robinson, Ensor, Mancini, Homer, Chase, Hassam, Twachtman, Inness, Dow, Lemmen, Beaux, Prendergast, Bastida, Potthast, Shinn, Glackens, Bellows; and "Post-Impressionism," 27 works: Cezanne, van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Gauguin, de Chavannes, Denis, Signac, Cross, Degas, Bonnard, Cassatt, Monet, Whistler, Pissarro, Redon, Tanner, Vallotton, Vuillard, Munch, Rodin. Well-written entries replete with excellent material to educate general readers and informed student-scholars, accompanied by excellent color reproductions. Index of artists. One of the finest collections of impressionist and post-impressionist art in the US, well worth the price. Recommended. All levels. ; Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

In his introduction, James N. Wood, director and president of the Art Institute of Chicago, credits Chicago's art patrons and civic-minded leaders with the foresight to create the museum's world-renowned impressionist and post-impressionist collections. The 147 paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures are presented chronologically and in full color. Brief descriptions by art historians, accompanying each illustration, point out details that may not be obvious to a casual viewer and also concentrate on the influences of other artists as well as interactions among artists. Libraries that have Richard R. Brettell's three-volume set French Salon Artists, French Impressionists, and Post-Impressionists (Abrams, 1987. o.p.)Dwill find a lot of overlap; however, this volume is international in scope, especially with its inclusion of American impressionists, and does provide a good overview. Since these seminal works have such universal appeal, this publication is recommended for general collections and will be most appreciated by visitors to the museum.DJoan Levin, MLS, Chicago (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.