What's so American about American art? Pt. I

"Of course, it is well to go abroad and see the works of the Old Masters, but Americans [must] strike out for themselves, and only by doing this will we create a great and distinctly American art." -- Thomas Eakins (1844-1916)

This was made by an American*:

Thomas Cole, The Oxbow, 1836, oil on canvas, 51.5" x 76 inches.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

So was this:

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled, 1981, oil stick on paper, 40" x 60".
Museum of Modern Art, New York City

And this:

John Steuart Curry, Tornado Over Kansas (1929), oil on canvas, approx. 47" x 60".
Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, Michigan

This too:

Ann Hamilton, Reflection (12:00 to 12:55), 1999-2001, suite of twelve iris prints.
Alrbright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York.

And also this:

Robert Henri, Betalo Nude (1916), oil on canvas, 41" x 33".
Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

We are a unique people (or so we like to believe): our ancestors/grandparents/parents/ourselves had enough hope and optimism to leave behind friends and family, to leave behind a threatening political/military situation, with the determination that they (we?) could make it in the new land. This promise of freedom has brought immigrants from literally every country in the world, and created our great melting pot of diversity.

But then if we are a melting pot of diversity, how can we categorize ourselves? Sure, "American" food is hotdogs, hamburgers, and apple pie. But when I really think "American" and "food," I think of diversity and access: that in one town, I get a mulitude of different types of foods whenever I want. What's more American than eggs from a local diner for breakfast, Thai food for lunch, ordering a pizza for dinner, and then going out and drinking a Chinese beer?

But I digress. Pretty much since the inception of the British colonies and then the nation, the United States, Americans have long-struggled with their cultural and artistic identity. How are we the same, but different from Europe? In some cases, how are we better than Europe? It's hard to stack up a measly two centuries of history when places like India, China, Italy, and Greece have traditions of artistic production dating back to BCE? Or places like London and Paris, which just reek of artistry, architecture, and culture?

When we teach art history, we can give characteristics for regional styles: Italian Renaissance art shows the influence of classical humanism, Dutch art has a lot of landscapes and still lifes, etc. What characteristics can we assign art that has been created since 1776? In other words: what's so American about American art? Is it desirable in a nation of immigrants that all proudly, simultaneously claim their old and new nationalities (German-American, Asian-American, etc.) to stylistically categorize it all as "American"?

This topic can clearly be controversial and personal. Rather than try to answer questions or propose solutions, I'll try steer this post series towards the history of how Americans have tried to define their artistic identity. What did "American art" mean in in 1853, 1933, 1953, 1973 or 2003? Who were the Americans creating art of the colonial settlers? Who was writing about art at those times? Where were artists being trained? Which artists conscioiusly tried to create "American art" and which ones created art that has become perceived as quintessentially American? What does that tell us about the history of the United States?

*Note: the term "American" has recently become an ideological minefield, mostly concerning colonialism, post-colonialism, imperialism, and nationalism. The term "American" does not inherently mean "from the United States of America" but can also be applied to those of North, Central, and South American. To write that something is American and have it instantly mean "United States" has come under fire by those from other countries in the Americas, as qualifying that something is Central or Southern American may inadvertantly (one may hope) mark it is from the Other. Rodolfo Acuna's essay "Occupied America" uses the specific case of the Southwest United States to demonstrate how colonization has taken not only land but also appropriated an "Other" culture in the name of "American" (United States) identity. In this post, the term "American" is used to denote "from the United States of American." In no way does this intend to denegrate or disrespect those from other Americas. Rather, it is out of convenience for a catchy title. However, I also think that adding this bit of information can also open new avenues of discussion in hopes of achieving a new understanding between cultures and countries.