Parting Day c. 1896 - 1901

John Montgomery Grove created this photogravure titled ‘Parting Day’. Its soft focus evokes the nostalgic, turn-of-the-century American landscape. Grove was working in a period when American artists were trying to define a national artistic identity, distinct from European traditions. ‘Parting Day’ reflects this desire to capture the essence of the American experience. But who, in this period, could enjoy such leisurely rural scenery? For many, the ‘parting day’ would have been marked by long days working the land. Grove’s image then, is idealizing, speaking to a bourgeois desire for picturesque scenery rather than a genuine connection to rural life. To understand this artwork, one could research American landscape painting of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, or studies of American leisure and class. In doing so, we might better understand the cultural meanings embedded within this seemingly simple landscape.