Emma Lambert Cooper Paintings

Emma Lampert Cooper was an American painter born in 1855 in Nunda, New York. She was a prominent figure in the art world during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for her landscape paintings, portraits, and still lifes. Cooper's educational journey in art began at the Rochester Free Academy, and she further honed her skills at the Cooper Union in New York City, where she was distinguished as one of its first female graduates. Her quest for knowledge didn't stop there; she continued her studies abroad at the Académie Delécluse in Paris, a city that was at the heart of the art world at the time. This European sojourn was crucial in shaping her artistic style, which skillfully blended elements of Impressionism with more traditional techniques.

Cooper's career was marked by both her prolific output and the recognition she received for her work. She exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Paris Salon, the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, in 1901, and the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Oregon, in 1905, among others. Her international exposure and acclaim were significant at a time when female artists struggled to gain recognition. In 1897, she married fellow artist Colin Campbell Cooper, and the two often traveled and painted together, capturing scenes from their journeys in the United States, Europe, and Asia. These travels not only influenced their work but also allowed Emma to explore and depict a wide range of subjects, from the architectural marvels of European cities to the serene landscapes of the American countryside.

Emma Lampert Cooper's legacy extends beyond her paintings; she was also dedicated to art education. She taught at several institutions, including the Mechanics Institute of Rochester (now Rochester Institute of Technology) and the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh. Her pedagogical work emphasized the importance of observing nature and the world, a principle that deeply informed her own art. Cooper's contributions to art were recognized with numerous awards throughout her career, and her works are part of several prestigious collections, including the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, New York. Emma Lampert Cooper passed away in 1920, leaving behind a rich body of work that continues to be celebrated for its beauty, sensitivity, and breadth of subject matter.