Jersey Shore Impressionists: The Fascination of Sun and Sea
by Roy Pedersen (Down the Shore Publishing)
The author, a Lambertville historian and art dealer, reveals the remarkable output of the largely unknown colonies of impressionist artists that emerged on the Shore in the late 19th century. The movement started with Manasquan’s art community, progressing to other Shore towns as European immigrants and American-trained artists captured on canvas the coast’s play of water and light. The coffee-table book showcases work from 1880 to 1940, ranging from beachscapes and sailboat scenes to portraits of locals lounging. The release of the book coincides with “Coastal Impressions: Painters of the Jersey Shore,” an exhibition at the Morven Museum & Garden in Princeton on view from May to late September.