Luminism

Luminism is a term created in the 20th century to describe a style of art that emerged between 1850 and 1870. Noted Luminist artists include Fitz Hugh Lane and Frederic E. Church.

Luminist art uses light and contrast so that many of the landscapes -- or portions of them -- seem to glow with an inner light.

Luminism preceded Impressionism and is more closely aligned with Tonalism, which emerged around 1880 and focused on tone (light and shadow) more than color. [Image at right: Icebergs, by Frederic E. Church, 1861.]

Many -- but not all -- Luminist painters used color and tone to create a glowing effect in their work. Generally, their subjects were landscapes and poetic subjects, sometimes painted from an elevated or aerial perspective. Luminist paintings often include fine details and concealed brushstrokes.

Hundreds of artists have favored the Luminist style of painting. These are the most well-known among the 19th century Luminists. (All of the following links lead to Wikipedia entries.)

• Fitz Hugh Lane (1804 - 1865)
  [Image, upper left: Brace's Rock, Eastern Point, Gloucester, by Fitz Hugh Lane.]


• David Johnson (1827 - 1908)


• John Frederick Kensett (1816 - 1872)


• James Augustus Suydam (1819 - 1865)


• Sanford Robinson Gifford (1823 - 1880)


• George Caleb Bingham (1811 - 1879)


• Martin Johnson Heade (1819 - 1904)


• Jasper Francis Cropsey (1823 - 1900)


• Frederic Edwin Church (1826 - 1900)

One could say that Tonalism was the result of Impressionism's influence on Luminism; specifically, Luminist art often includes fine details while Tonalism's focus is softer.

Also, Tonalism includes a broader range of light conditions, and often a more limited palette in its representations.

The image shown at right is Whistler's Nocturne: Blue and Gold. It's a Tonalist painting, and -- though it has a glow -- it is both consistently dark and uses a very soft, almost Impressionist focus that make it different from a Luminist work.