The current traveling exhibition at the Wichita Art Museum is giving visitors a close-up look at some Iconic and significant works of American artists — like paintings of George Washington that you may have come across in history books.
The exhibition, “Making American Artists: Stories from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 1776-1976,” features a who’s who of American artists whose works have interpreted historical events, earned a place in American art history or influenced other artists during the two centuries after the U.S. gained its independence.
“So many of the greats, the heavy hitters of American art,” said WAM curator Tera Hedrick. “It’s just iconic work after iconic work.”
For example, Winslow Homer’s large oil on canvas painting “Fox Hunt” is considered one of the top works by one of America’s preeminent artists. A 19th century painter, Homer created powerful, evocative landscapes. “Fox Hunt” depicts a murder of crows ready to attack a lone fox that is in deep snow with little chance of escape.