Louise Pickard Paintings

Louise Pickard was an American painter known for her impressionistic landscapes, still lifes, and portraits. Born on October 10, 1865, in Detroit, Michigan, she was one of the earlier female artists to gain recognition in the United States at a time when the art world was predominantly male-dominated.

Pickard studied art at the Detroit School of Design and later continued her education at the Art Students League in New York City under the tutelage of William Merritt Chase, a distinguished American impressionist painter. Chase's influence is evident in Pickard's use of color and light, as well as her loose brushwork, which became hallmarks of her style.

In pursuit of further development, Pickard traveled to Europe, as was common among American artists of the time. She studied in Paris at the Académie Colarossi and Académie Julian, two prominent art schools that were more accepting of female students than other European institutions. During her time in France, she was exposed to the works of the French Impressionists, which had a significant impact on her artistic approach.

Her career spanned several decades during which she exhibited her work widely. Pickard participated in shows at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the National Academy of Design. Her work was well-received, and she earned a reputation for her vibrant and expressive canvases.

Despite her success, Louise Pickard remains a relatively obscure figure in art history, with limited information available about her personal life and career. She continued to paint throughout her life, contributing to the American art scene until her death on April 27, 1928.

Pickard's legacy is that of a pioneering woman in the arts, who managed to carve out a successful career despite the gender biases of her time. Her works are part of several collections, but information about her is scarce, and she deserves more recognition for her contributions to American Impressionism.