Lifelong Learners
An Independent Collaborative

Lifelong Learners

An Independent Collaborative

New York – Painting the City (1900 – 1940)

Course Leader(s)
Day of Week: Wednesday
Course Length: 5 weeks
Starting: 10/29/2025
Ending: 12/03/2025
Period of Day: Period 3X Zoom
Time: 2:45-4:15 (Nonstandard time)
Course Fee: $50

Course Description:

This five-week course examines how early 20th-century artists portrayed the beauty, diversity, and energy of New York City. Various artistic approaches are explored, from the romantic impressionism of Colin Campbell Cooper to the dynamic modernism of John Marin. This period witnessed New York’s dramatic rise as a global center, a transformation reflected in the art of the time. Artists grappled with the city’s towering architecture, its diverse populations, and the relentless pace of modern life.  The artists covered will be Colin Campbell Cooper (1856-1937); John Marin (1870-1953); Guy Wiggins (1883-1962); Reginald Marsh (1898-1954); Alice Neel (1900-1984); and Isabel Bishop (1902-1988).

The course will consist of presentations and discussions. Each participant will receive by email a syllabus prior to the first session. Participants are asked to watch two videos and read one text article (total time about 30-45 minutes) before each session.

Books and Other Resources:

All assignments will be online. Links will be accessed through a syllabus.

Course Leader Bio(s)

John Cohen

I am a retired computer programmer. Living in the Boston area, I am fortunate to have been able to take more than 20 art history courses over the past 20 years at Wellesley College, Boston University, and LLIAC. These included courses in Greek, Renaissance, Victorian, and American Art. Previously at LLAIC, I have been the class leader for The Birth of Modern Art (1900 – 1950). I’ve also been lucky enough to have spent a great deal of time looking at art in (I guess) more than 100 museums and churches in the United States and Europe.