Edgar Payne's "Marinescape" c. 1918

The Style of impressionistic painting was first introduced in France in 1874, where it received outspoken criticism as it departed from the more realistic painting tradition of the time. Impressionists rejected the “academic” techniques of earlier movements in favor of short, bold brushstrokes that captured light and color rather than fine details. Impressionists most frequently painted landscapes and other subjects in nature and used the plein air technique of painting outdoors and directly in view of their subjects. To capture the natural light, artists painted quickly, attempting to depict an “impression” of the scene rather than a detailed copy. As the movement became more popular, variants of the style emerged and by the 1880s the techniques had spread to artists in the United States.

American painters by this time had already developed a tradition of painting outdoors; it was impressionism’s quick brushstrokes and emphasis on color that would inspire artists across the country, and by 1900 impressionism would become the most popular style of painting in the United States. During this period of time many plein airpainters came to California and spent time in Laguna Beach, capturing its then unsettled natural beauty. Only ten permanent residents lived in Laguna Beach in 1900, with travelers and seasonal residents passing through year-round. The small village continued to grow, however, and by 1917 there were about 30 to 40 artists living in Laguna Beach teaching plein air art classes and selling their works in major centers of art like Chicago and New York.

One of the most famous and accomplished of these artists was Edgar Alwyn Payne, who painted this beautiful piece around the time he decided to settle down in Laguna Beach with his wife and daughter in 1919. Payne’s work embodies the culmination of the Californian impressionism and plein air style. The artist was known for being somewhat of a nomad, and he traveled the nation and the world in search of beautiful landscapes to paint. He is most famous for his work in the Californian Sierra Nevada Mountains and for writing a book on plein air painting, entitled Composition of Outdoor Painting. He is also notable for founding the Laguna Beach Art Association and becoming its first president. The organization promoted local artists and maintained a gallery of their art, and it grew into what is today the Laguna Art Museum. The organization also began the tradition of putting on a show in which live models are painted, costumed, and placed in front of backgrounds in order to depict famous or classical paintings. The show still exists to this day and is famously known as “The Pageant of the Masters.”