Edward Dufner

Midsummer

Circa 1920

Edward Dufner was dubbed the, “Painter of Sunshine” by his peers due to his masterful rendering of atmospheric effects. His paintings are highly sought after for their luminous portrayal of sunlight infused in nature and his subjects convey a strongly romantic, almost symbolist sentiment. The painting, Evening Song, ranks among the most important American works of the early 20th century. The arrangement of the composition is derived from the Classical three-part division of the picture plane. The father of Modernism, Poussin, explored these compositional techniques in the 17th century, which Dufner studied thoroughly during his time in Paris. The Post-Impressionist elements are evident in the foreground, where a Divisionist technique is used to create the illusion of light flickering across gently rippling water. Dufner did not approach this style in the mathematical manner of Seurat, but rather studied color theory in order to express it intuitively. In the middle ground and immediate foreground of the piece, he applied a vigorous, agitated brushstroke, juxtaposing primary colors with lavender and pink hues. This method creates the sensation of slowly fading light, as one would observe in the early evening. His stunning ability to convey the exact time of day and atmosphere of the setting is unparalleled by his contemporaries.