The Railway: Art in the Age of Steam
Ian Kennedy
A fascinating account of how the railway influenced more than a century of art in Europe and America
Steam locomotives gripped the imagination when they first appeared in 19th-century Europe and America. Aboard these great machines, passengers traveled at faster speeds than ever before while watching the scenery transform itself and take on new forms. Common notions of time and space were forever changed.
Through vivid illustrations and engaging texts, The Railway: Art in the Age of Steam captures both the fear and excitement of early train travel as it probes the artistic response to steam locomotion within its social setting. Featuring paintings, photography, prints, and posters, the book includes numerous masterpieces by 19th- and 20th-century artists, including J. M. W. Turner, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Charles Sheeler, and Edward Hopper.
With its wide variety of themes—landscape painting, the conquest of the West, Impressionism, issues of social class, Modernism, the aesthetics of the machine, and environmental concerns—this work promises an exhilarating journey for both train and art enthusiasts and for anyone interested in one of the industrial age’s defining achievements.
Published in association with The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, and Walker Art Gallery, National Museums Liverpool
Exhibition Schedule:
Walker Art Gallery, National Museums Liverpool (April 18 – August 10, 2008)
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City (September 13, 2008 – January 18, 2009)
Product Details
About Ian Kennedy
Reviews for The Railway: Art in the Age of Steam
John Linsenmeyer
The Greenwich Times
"Beautiful. . . . [This] is not just a fine museum catalogue, but a truly comprehensive study of the impact of railways on society as recorded by nineteenth- and early twentieth-century painters and photographers."—Barrymore Laurence Scherer, Antiques
Barrymore Laurence Scherer
Antiques
"The Railway captures the excitement, awe and dread that locomotives inspired in their heyday, among artists as well as the general public. . . . It should satisfy rabid trainspotters and art lovers alike."—Sheila Gibson Stoodley, Art & Antiques
Sheila Gibson Stoodley
Art & Antiques
"This book's range, quality and craftsmanship astonished me. I'm not alone in my fascination with rails and engines, but even if you have only a casual interest, I defy you to be nonchalant about the contents."—Kansas City Star
Kansas City Star
"This . . . catalogue presents an impressive range of mostly European and American images . . . of steam locomotives, track, bridges, and passengers. . . . essays . . . offer perceptive analysis and helpful background. . . . Over 200 excellent illustrations enhance this superb overview of a fascinating subject . . ."—Choice
Choice
"Beautifully designed and lavishly illustrated. . . . Kennedy and Treuherz have collected an impressively broad range of images."—Kenneth John Myers, Winterthur Portfolio
Kenneth John Myers
Winterthur Portfolio