Friends preview – 'America after the Fall: Painting in the 1930s'
22 February 2017 10am - 10pm23 February 2017 10am - 6pm24 February 2017 10am - 6pm
The Sackler Wing, Burlington House, Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly
Free, booking recommended. Friends only.
Friends of the RA book first
America after the Fall: Painting in the 1930s
We invite Friends of the RA to join us for an exclusive preview of ‘America after the Fall: Painting in the 1930s’ before it is open to the public. The art of 1930s America tells the story of a nation in flux. Artists responded to rapid social change and economic anxiety with some of the 20th century’s most powerful art - brought together now in this once-in-a-generation show.
The Sackler Wing will exhibit 45 truly iconic works, painting an electrifying portrait of this transformative period. These are works which have rarely been seen together, by artists ranging from Jackson Pollock, Georgia O’Keeffe and Edward Hopper to Thomas Hart Benton, Philip Guston and more. Perhaps the most celebrated work of them all, Grant Wood’s iconic American Gothic (1930), has never left North American shores before.
In the devastating wake of the Wall Street Crash, artists sought to capture the changes in urbanisation, industrialisation and immigration that pulsed across the country, resulting in one of the most vital periods for American artists in the 20th century. This was a decade like no other that saw them search for an elusive ‘Americanness’ through realism, populism and abstraction, rural and urban themes, the farm, the new, the traditional.
As Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “Art is not a treasure in the past or an importation from another land, but part of the present life of all living and creating peoples.” So experience the life of 1930s America through the many masterpieces in this landmark show.
As our Friends preview events are extremely popular, we ask that you book a ticket to enable a pleasurable experience when viewing the exhibition. As a Friend you are welcome to enjoy the exhibition for free, but in reserving a viewing time at the exhibition preview, you will be ensured entry for you and a guest. Should you arrive without a booking, we will do our best to accommodate you but may need to delay access during busy times.
Thank you for your continued support.