Art and Artists of the Hoosier Group J. Ottis Adams, William Forsyth, Otto Stark and T. C. Steele

In the early 1880’s,three Hoosier men who were painters traveled from Indiana all the way to Munich, in Germany, to learn more about painting in the Impressionist style they admired.

The three men returned to Indiana and painted in their own versions of the Impressionist style they’d learned, using Indiana scenes and images for inspiration in their paintings. Later, the painters also met another man from Indiana, Otto Stark, who had traveled to Paris, in France, to study art. The four friends became very important artists and teachers of art in Indiana.

J. Ottis Adams

William Forsyth

T. C. Steele

Otto Stark

J. Ottis Adams was inspired by scenes from nature in Indiana.

Here is a photograph of J. Ottis Adams in his Munich studio.

Iridescence of a Shallow Stream, 1902 J. Ottis Adams

Summertime, 1890 J. Ottis Adams

William Forsyth also painted scenes from Indiana.

Here is a photograph of William Forsyth with his daughter.

The Grist Mill, William Forsyth

Moonrise and Twilight, 1908 William Forsyth

T. C. Steele liked to paint scenes from the land around his home in southern Indiana as well as in Indianapolis.

Here is a photograph of T. C. Steele and his wife in later years.

This photograph shows T. C. Steele painting outdoors.

In the Whitewater Valley near Metamora, 1894 T. C. Steele

Meridian Street, Thawing Weather, 1887 T. C. Steele

Winter in the Ravine, T. C. Steele

Otto Stark studied in Paris, France and then came back to Indiana to paint images from Hoosier life.

Bad Pasturage, 1896 Otto Stark

Autumn Scene, Otto Stark

An artist named Wayman Adams, who learned a lot from these four men, wanted to honor them by painting their picture in 1921. Here, the four men are posing for the painting as Adams observes them.

Here is the finished painting. The Art Jury, 1921 Wayman Adams

The End