For all of the art lovers like me who have been missing the blissful experience of strolling through the halls of art museums admiring the breath-taking artistry, take a look at one of the exhibits at the Greenville County Museum of Art, Impressionism and the South. Although the museum is temporarily closed due to COVID-19, you can admire all of the pieces in this collection and learn more about them below. 

Impressionism is a 19th century art movement that was originally criticized by the French art community then became a widely accepted style of painting. Impressionism is characterized by the use of small, thin brush strokes that depict changing forms of light and movement. This exhibit includes stunning Impressionist pieces that are exquisitely detailed when looked at up close and act as a beautiful portrayal of Southern culture. The Greenville Art Museum described this exhibit as “sun-soaked”, and I couldn’t agree more. 

Most of my favorite art pieces are those depicting scenes outside, with colorful flowers drawing your attention, carefully painted foliage cowering in the background and glimpses of light completely mesmerizing you. Even after a first glance, I found all of the paintings in this exhibit to be beautiful but it wasn’t until I looked closer at the pieces that I noticed the exquisitely detailed painting style that gave me an even greater appreciation of the exhibit. 

Gari Melcher’s “Woman Reading By a Window” piece is by far my favorite because the artist is able to create a distinct contrast between the outdoor scene and the room this woman is peacefully residing in. I find it extremely impressive that the artist is able to create an obvious portrayal of a sunny summer day, as the plants and trees bask in the sun and the light seems to reflect off each single leaf.

To see the exhibit yourself, follow this link: https://gcma.org/impressionism-the-south/