With its proximity to the cultural hub of New York City and its quieter suburban and rural landscapes, Connecticut was fertile ground for artists and writers in the period of Modernist movements between 1913 and 1979. Many of these cultural figures are well known through biographical and critical studies. Creative Places seeks to show how place played a significant role in creative work, and how in turn the artists and writers influenced communities in Connecticut.
Karl Anderson
Illustration, Painting/Drawing
1874 – 1956
- Biography/Description of Work
Karl Anderson studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and academies and classes in Paris and Holland from 1900 to 1904. He then supported himself as an illustrator for such magazines as Scribner’s, The Saturday Evening Post, and Collier’s, while painting Impressionist landscapes and portraits in his free time. In 1912, Anderson settled in Westport, and had a studio on Narrow Rocks Road. Though not a Modernist, he exhibited at the 1913 New York Armory show. Anderson was one of the only artists in the area that could support himself solely through his easel paintings which earned him the title, “Dean of Westport Painters.” His subjects were figures outdoors, nudes, and idealized children. During the 1930s, Anderson painted decorative murals for post offices in Ohio and Westville through the WPA. From 1931-1944, he taught at the National Academy of Design.
- Sources view
- Uconn database, http://www.askart.com/AskART/A/karl_j_anderson/karl_j_anderson.aspx, http://www.spanierman.com/Anderson,-Karl/bio/thumbs/biography, http://www.ragoarts.com/results/?p=search&t=3&d=051713
Karl J. Anderson Obituary - New York Times - 1956-5-19, Karl J. Anderson Wife Obituary - New York Times - 1950-8-31 - Associated Resource(s)