Essay by Randi Higel, Class of 2008

William Wendt's style is likened to that of the Impressionists and is emblematic of the character of most West Coast artists. But why was Impressionism so admired and utilized by these Californian artists when the movement had essentially ended in France, its birthplace, decades earlier? Impressionism was still considered new and exciting to Americans at the turn of the century and the style seemed particularly compatible to the California atmosphere-as if the two were made for each other. Pure Impressionists advocated the use of bright, naturally vibrant colors which captured the effects of sunlight on objects and employed "sketchy" painterly brushstrokes in order to focus on the aesthetic elements, simply "suggesting" shape and line. "The lay public seemed receptive, and California artists saw the style as bright, colorful, and upbeat in feeling, appropriate for interpreting the state's attitude, color, and sunlight" (Moure 161).

Like his French role models, Wendt preferred composing his images en plein air, or out in front of nature, rather than compiling many drawings from nature within a studio toward a finished painting, as was typical of conservative academic artwork of the past. Wendt actively pursued nature and felt a strong kinship with God through landscape. He would often hike into the wilderness and find natural compositions rather than taking elements from the landscape and manipulating compositions.

Wendt's Two Boats on Water with Cloudscape is characteristic of his subject matter and style. Unfortunately, the original title of this painting by Wendt remains unknown. Yet the vibrant colors and expressive brushstrokes are typical of his mature style and luminous optimism.

In Augustana's painting, Wendt employed mostly vibrant and stunning shades of blue combined with subtle tans and large areas of white to contrast the brilliant colors against each other. Viewers gaze out onto the water, past two sailboats, towards magnificent blue and beige valleys. Huge billowing clouds roll in as if the heavens were speaking through the artist. Most likely painted en plein air, as Wendt's other images, this piece brilliantly represents the artist's characteristic style and passionate reverence toward nature.