Lesson 4 The Late Bloomers
Grandma Moses: Life Is What You Make It
Do you believe that world-famous artists always show their special skills from an early age?
Do you think they all started their artistic careers as young people?
While this may be true for Mozart or Picasso, there are many individuals who discovered their artistic talents later in life.
A good example is Anna Mary Robertson Moses, widely known as Grandma Moses.
She only began painting in earnest in her late 70s.
However, this did not stop her from becoming one of the most beloved American folk artists.
Life and Career
Moses was born on a farm in rural New York in 1860.
She spent her early years keeping house and doing farm work.
Despite her interest in art from a young age, Moses was generally too busy to develop her abilities.
She worked hard as a farmer and homemaker, occasionally finding time for “hobby art” such as quilting.
However, she never lost her passion for art, even in her busiest days.
It was not until her late 70s that Moses finally began painting in earnest.
Once she started, she spent most of her time painting.
In 1938, an art collector discovered her paintings displayed in a local store.
The following year, he managed to get Moses’ works included in the exhibition “Contemporary Unknown American Painters.”
In 1940, she had her first individual exhibition in New York City.
Soon after she became known as Grandma Moses throughout the art world.
Her images were commercially reproduced for greeting cards and stamps.
Her unique folk style and peaceful scenes inspired people all over the world.
She was given the Achievement Award of the Women’s National Press Club in 1949 for her outstanding artistic accomplishments.
Artworks
Since Moses was self-taught, some people referred to her as a “primitive artist.”
Lacking formal training, she usually ignored perspective and proportion.
However, her art was direct, honest, and cheerful.
Using bright colors and simple forms, she skillfully conveyed her pleasant memories and emotions.
Her works captured the everyday scenes of rural and family life.
Here are some of the important works that represent her distinctive style and attitudes.
Sugaring Off
The process of making maple syrup, known as "sugaring off," was one of Moses' favorite subjects, and she returned to it repeatedly.
"Sugaring Off" (1955) portrays villagers working in various stages of the process to produce maple syrup from trees on a winter day.
Moses' appreciation for traditional ways of life shines through in this painting.
She believed that men, women, and children all should stay busy and do their parts for the community.
The Old Checkered House
The checkered house is another well-known topic of Moses' paintings.
She created more than twenty versions of this house in both summer and winter landscapes.
This house was a landmark inn near her childhood home, decorated with a red and white checkered pattern.
In "The Old Checkered House, 1853" (1944), a large house painted in red and white squares takes up the center.
In front of the house, various figures are engaged in different activities, with visitors arriving and leaving in horse carriages.
The checkered house represents her deep connection to the past and her beloved memories of old things that were quickly disappearing.
Calhoun
"Calhoun" (1955) depicts a rural American landscape with farm buildings, rolling hills, lines of trees, and small figures working on the harvest.
The title may refer to Calhoun County, not far from the farm where Moses and her family once lived.
However, this peaceful and poetic scene portrays an ideal world that existed only in Moses’ imagination, rather than any real place.
She believed that art should only present pleasant scenes and subjects.
She once said, “What's the use of painting a picture if it isn’t something nice?”
Legacy
Despite her fame and success, Grandma Moses remained modest and dedicated to her art.
She maintained her passion for painting until her death at the age of 101, leaving behind over 1,500 paintings.
Whether through her paintings or her life story, Grandma Moses proves that it is never too late to follow one’s passion and that there is no set schedule for success.
For some people, it may take time to find their true calling.
However, with hard work, dedication, and a willingness to take risks, it is possible to achieve your dreams at any time in your life.
As Grandma Moses once said, “Life is what you make it. Always has been. Always will be.”
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