Early Life and Training
Albert Pinkham Ryder, an American painter, was born on March 19, 1847, in New Bedford, Massachusetts. His early life remains somewhat of a mystery, with little known about his childhood. However, it is documented that he began painting landscapes while still in New Bedford. In 1867 or 1868, the Ryder family moved to New York City, where Albert's brother managed the Hotel Albert, a Greenwich Village landmark.
Artistic Development and Influences
Ryder's first training in art was with the painter
William Edgar Marshall in New York. From 1870 to 1873, and again from 1874 to 1875, he studied at the National Academy of Design, where he exhibited his first painting in 1873 and met artist
Julian Alden Weir, who became his lifelong friend. In 1877, Ryder made the first of four trips to Europe, studying the French Barbizon school and the Dutch Hague School, which significantly impacted his work.
Artistic Style and Notable Works
Ryder's signature style is characterized by broad, sometimes ill-defined shapes or stylized figures situated in a dream-like land or seascape. His scenes are often illuminated by dim sunlight or glowing moonlight cast through eerie clouds. Notable works include
Misty Moonlight (Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, United States), which derives from recollections of his childhood in coastal New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Later Life and Legacy
After 1900, Ryder's creativity fell dramatically. He spent the rest of his life re-working existing paintings and died on March 28, 1917. A memorial exhibition of his work was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1918. Despite the passing of time, Ryder's artistic reputation has remained largely intact due to his unique and forward-looking style.
Important: Ryder's artistic style, characterized by subtle variations of color and emphasis on form, has influenced numerous artists, including Jackson Pollock.