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Moses Myers House

323 E. Freemason St.
Open Saturday and Sunday

Noon–5 p.m.

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

Reading Room
Wednesday-Friday
10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Closed May 17-19, 2024

About the Myers House

The oldest Jewish home in America open to the public as a museum offers a glimpse of the life of an early 19th century merchant family.
More about the house

About the Library

With an extensive collection of more than 106,000 rare and unique volumes relating to the history of art, the Jean Outland Chrysler Art Library is one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the library

Located in Norfolk

One Memorial Place,
Norfolk, VA
Get Directions

While You're Here

Visit our Museum Shop
and Zinnia Cafe.

Perry Glass Studio

A state-of-art facility on the Museum’s campus. See a free glassmaking demo Tuesdays–Sunday at noon. Like what you see? Take a class with us! More about the Studio

The Myers House

The home of the first permanent Jewish residents of Norfolk, this historic house offers a glimpse of the life of a wealthy early 19th-century merchant family.
More about the house

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

With an extensive collection of more than 106,000 rare and unique volumes relating to the history of art, the Jean Outland Chrysler Library is one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the Library

Wedding & Event Rentals

The perfect place for your big day or special event. Get the details

Field Trips

Field trips are available for groups of 60 or fewer. More about field trips

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

Visit one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the library

About the Chrysler

Our story spans well over 100 years. See where we began, how we grew, and where we're going. Explore our history

News and Announcements

See what's happening at the Museum, read Chrysler Magazine, and find our Media Center. Read now

Location

One Memorial Place
Norfolk, VA 23510

Location

245 Grace Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
757-333-6299

Always Free Parking

Get Directions

Visiting Artist Series

Bringing the world’s top glass art talent to Hampton Roads
Find out more

Studio Team

Meet the brilliant minds behind the Studio.
See the team

Give the Chrysler Experience

Share everything you love about the Chrysler Museum with a gift membership. Perfect for everyone on your list.

The Masterpiece Society

Learn about this innovative group of museum supporters.
Meet the Masterpiece Society

Planned Giving

Help ensure the long-term success of the Museum.
Learn about planned giving

Moses Myers House

323 E. Freemason St.
Open Saturday and Sunday

Noon–5 p.m.

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

Reading Room
Wednesday-Friday
10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Closed May 17-19, 2024

About the Myers House

The oldest Jewish home in America open to the public as a museum offers a glimpse of the life of an early 19th century merchant family.
More about the house

About the Library

With an extensive collection of more than 106,000 rare and unique volumes relating to the history of art, the Jean Outland Chrysler Art Library is one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the library

Located in Norfolk

One Memorial Place,
Norfolk, VA
Get Directions

While You're Here

Visit our Museum Shop
and Zinnia Cafe.

Perry Glass Studio

A state-of-art facility on the Museum’s campus. See a free glassmaking demo Tuesdays–Sunday at noon. Like what you see? Take a class with us! More about the Studio

The Myers House

The home of the first permanent Jewish residents of Norfolk, this historic house offers a glimpse of the life of a wealthy early 19th-century merchant family.
More about the house

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

With an extensive collection of more than 106,000 rare and unique volumes relating to the history of art, the Jean Outland Chrysler Library is one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the Library

Wedding & Event Rentals

The perfect place for your big day or special event. Get the details

Field Trips

Field trips are available for groups of 60 or fewer. More about field trips

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

Visit one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the library

About the Chrysler

Our story spans well over 100 years. See where we began, how we grew, and where we're going. Explore our history

News and Announcements

See what's happening at the Museum, read Chrysler Magazine, and find our Media Center. Read now

Location

One Memorial Place
Norfolk, VA 23510

Location

245 Grace Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
757-333-6299

Always Free Parking

Get Directions

Visiting Artist Series

Bringing the world’s top glass art talent to Hampton Roads
Find out more

Studio Team

Meet the brilliant minds behind the Studio.
See the team

Give the Chrysler Experience

Share everything you love about the Chrysler Museum with a gift membership. Perfect for everyone on your list.

The Masterpiece Society

Learn about this innovative group of museum supporters.
Meet the Masterpiece Society

Planned Giving

Help ensure the long-term success of the Museum.
Learn about planned giving

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ArtExhibitionsPast

Watercolor: An American Medium

On View

February 21, 2019 — June 23, 2019

Location

Second Floor, Photography Gallery

Thomas Moran American, Shoshone Falls
Thomas Moran American (1837-1926)
Shoshone Falls, Snake River, Idaho, ca. 1875
Watercolor on paper board
Gift of Mr. Hugh Gordon Miller

A survey of the heights of the American watercolor movement from around 1870– to 1940 that reveals a deeper appreciation of watercolor’s central place in the larger history of American art.

During the second half of the nineteenth century, watercolor painting—once considered a medium best suited to amateur artists or preliminary sketches—developed into a significant force in American art. By the turn of the century, the popularity of watercolor painting as well as the qualities favored by its leading artists of boldness, directness, and cheerfulness led many critics to proclaim watercolor the “American Medium.”

Working in a wide range of styles and motifs, amateur and professional artists produced watercolors of technical brilliance and captivating beauty that pushed the boundaries of the medium and positioned watercolor at the leading edges of American art.

Charles Demuth Pansies
Charles Demuth (American, 1883−1935)
Pansies, 1915
Watercolor and graphite on paper
Chrysler Museum of Art, gift of an anonymous donor, 80.225
Charles Ephraim Burchfield Watering Time
Charles Ephraim Burchfield (American, 1893−1967)
Watering Time, 1921
Watercolor and gouache on paper, mounted on board
Chrysler Museum of Art, gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., 71.626

This exhibition presents a survey of the heights of the American watercolor movement from around 1870– to 1940 and reveals a deeper appreciation of watercolor’s central place in the larger history of American art. Many artists who achieved great fame for their paintings in oil such as John Singer Sargent, Thomas Moran, and John La Farge also devoted considerable attention to watercolors, producing some of their most spectacular and enduring efforts within this medium. Through the twentieth century, leading artists like Charles Demuth, John Marin, Maurice Prendergast, and Marguerite Zorach continued to embrace watercolor, which played a pivotal role in the progress of American modernism.

Drawn from the Chrysler Museum of Art’s holdings of works on paper as well as Hampton Roads collections, the exhibition features more than thirty-five watercolors which represent the broad set of styles, subjects, and artists that comprised this important and delightful chapter of American art.

Programming

Beginner's Watercolor Workshop

Tour Watercolor: An American Medium and learn basic watercolor techniques in this afternoon workshop. Watercolorist Rowena Finn will guide you through practice exercises before you complete your own botanical painting. Take the class

Watercolor Techniques Professional Development

Art and history teachers of all grade levels will discover ways to connect students to the diverse artists and techniques of American watercolorists through a guided tour of the exhibition as well as hands-on art-making and discussion activities they can use in their own classrooms. Register

girl painting at desk
Watercolor for Kids

Wear your play clothes to the Museum. It’s time to get messy with watercolor. Children ages 8–12 are invited to try different watercolor techniques and discover how professional artists used watercolor to create the masterpieces on view. Learn More

Corey Piper. Brock Curator of American Art
Gallery Talk

Join Corey Piper, Ph.D, Brock Curator of American Art, for a guided tour of the exhibition and examine the subjects and watercolor techniques. View Details

More special exhibitions

On view right now

Oil on canvas self-portrait of Bernard Conda
Through December 1, 2024

Bernard Conda: A Day in the Life
Exhibition Details

Peter Bremers Sapphire Ice Cave - Glass Object
Through January 19, 2025

Peter Bremers: Ice to Water
Exhibition Details