Ernest Lawson | American Impressionism | Washintgon Heights

Ernest Lawson (1873–1939), a celebrated painter of American impressionism, moved to Washington Heights in 1898 and is best known for his depictions of the area. As a member of The Eight, which included Arthur B. Davies, Robert Henri, and John Sloan, Lawson was instrumental in introducing the American public to modernism, including his work as an organizer of the 1913 Armory Show. Lawson—who studied at the Art Students League under John Twachtman, John Alden Weir, and Willard Metcalf—was less concerned with social realism than his colleagues, yet his paintings captured the changing urban landscape of Washington Heights, Inwood, and Harlem.

This Tuesday, June 5th, join local historian Don Rice for a special, free presentation on Ernest Lawson at Indian Road Café, 600 218^th Street (at West 218^th Street), at 7:30 pm. In conjunction with the 2012 Uptown Art Stroll, and as part of the monthly LOST INWOOD local history series, Rice will examine the life, work, and continuing legacy of Ernest Lawson in northern Manhattan. The presentation features beautifully detailed color slides of many landscapes. Rice will also reveal the locations of several of Lawson’s favorite vantage points.

Ernest Lawson, “Inwood, Upper Washington Heights”

1911 Bromley Atlas showing Lawson’s vantage point

Nina Sangimino is the Research Associate at Questroyal Fine Art. She earned an M.S. in art history from Pratt Institute and a B.A. in the same field from the University at Albany. Prior to joining Questroyal, Nina was Curatorial Apprentice at the Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport, New York.