The Ideal Sketching Ground: Prints by the Artists of Brown County

In 1905, the Illinois Central Railroad connected Indianapolis with northeastern Brown County, Indiana.  Not long after, numerous artists—particularly landscape painters—began making the journey from Indianapolis and Chicago to the small town of Nashville, where they discovered camaraderie with fellow artists and an unspoiled, picturesque place for inspiration.  Painter Adolph Shulz described the area as “the ideal sketching ground” with its rolling hills, creek beds, rustic cabins, and opalescent haze.  From 1890 to 1910, artists were forming their own schools and communities across the country, like Cape Ann, Laguna Beach, Taos, and Woodstock.  Brown County emerged as the best known artist colony in the Midwest and continues to attract artists today.

Many Brown County artists were highly skilled printmakers, representing some of Indiana’s earliest examples in the graphic arts.  Gustave Baumann and L.O. Griffith were highly prolific and created complex, innovative works in woodcut and etching, respectively.  Several of the artists were founding members of etching societies and received honors and recognition in national exhibitions for these works.  This exhibition brings together the significant number of artists working in etching and woodcut in Brown County, including Gustave Baumann, Charles Dahlgreen, Homer Davisson, L.O. Griffith, Evelynne and George Jo Mess, Frederick Polley, Kenneth Reeve, and Will Vawter, among others drawn from area collections.

This exhibition is curated by FWMoA Curator of Prints and Drawings Sachi Yanari-Rizzo in collaboration with Douglas Runyan, advisor and lender to the exhibition.

This exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the following individuals: Bill Andrews and Vicky Carwein, Anonymous (2), Mr. and Mrs. William E. Becker, David L. and Janet Seiwert Bell, The Chapman Charitable Trust, Elizabeth A. Frederick, The Ladowski Family, Betty Lou and Floyd Lancia, Carol and Duane Lupke, Alexis and Tony Macklin, Frances and Donald Mefford, Barbara Choka-Snider and John Snider, Nancy and David Stewart, and Kathy and Don Steininger.