International Exchange
Throughout the nineteenth century, American artists often looked to French and British academic painters and critics for inspiration. Academic art instruction in the United States was only beginning to emerge, so many young artists sought training abroad, especially in Paris, where studios and academies provided crucial technical instruction. Meanwhile, the written work of British and French art critics, such as writer and artist John Ruskin, circulated internationally and shaped artistic standards and ideas about the role of art in society.
Traveling artists often brought with them easy-to-transport sketchbooks and watercolor materials, producing drawings that could be brought back and further developed in their studios. Upon their return, American artists adapted their European lessons to American subjects and settings, exploring new inspirations that shaped the course of American art.