Ten American Painters facts for kids

The Ten in 1908

The Ten American Painters, often called The Ten, was a group of artists who came together in 1898. They wanted to show their artwork as one team. John Henry Twachtman, J. Alden Weir, and Childe Hassam were the main leaders of this group.

These artists were not happy with the old-fashioned art rules in America. So, they found seven other artists from cities like Boston and New York. Their goal was to create a new group. This group would show art that was fresh, creative, and high quality. The Ten became very popular and stayed together for twenty years before they stopped.

Why The Ten Formed

In America, new painting styles often started in big East Coast cities. The Ten continued a trend of artists forming new groups. This happened when they felt existing art groups did not support them enough.

For example, the National Academy of Design started in 1825. Its students were unhappy with the older American Academy of the Fine Arts. Later, the National Academy itself became too old-fashioned. This led artists to create the Society of American Artists in 1877. They wanted to meet and show their art together.

The Ten American Painters grew out of this group in 1898. Twachtman, Weir, and Hassam felt the Society of American Artists did not like their Impressionist style. Leaving the group was a bold move. But the Society let them go rather than try to make them happy.

What is Impressionism?

Impressionism was an art movement that began in France in the 1870s. American painters started using this style later, in the late 1800s. Famous Impressionist painters include Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, and Auguste Renoir.

An Impressionist painting often uses small dabs of color. This makes the painting look clear from far away. But if you look closely, the colors might seem blurry.

Who Were The Ten?

The artists who started The Ten were:

• Frank W. Benson
• Joseph Rodefer DeCamp
• Thomas Wilmer Dewing
• Childe Hassam
• Willard Leroy Metcalf
• Robert Reid
• Edward Simmons
• Edmund C. Tarbell
• John Henry Twachtman
• J. Alden Weir

All of them had been members of the Society of American Artists. Winslow Homer was asked to join but said no. Abbott Handerson Thayer joined but left before the first art show. When J. H. Twachtman passed away in 1902, William Merritt Chase took his place.

To add a new member, everyone in the group had to agree. They also decided there would always be at least ten active members. This was important for the group to stay together.

For twenty years, The Ten showed their art in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and other American cities. The group eventually ended because some members passed away and public interest slowly faded.

See also

In Spanish: The Ten American Painters para niños