After the Rain 

Granville Redmond made this oil painting, ‘After the Rain’, sometime near the turn of the century. It evokes feelings of stillness and peace. Redmond was part of a California artistic community influenced by Impressionism and Tonalism. These artists were less concerned with precise representation and more interested in capturing a mood. The cultural embrace of landscape painting in the United States coincided with a growing conservation movement. Many artists saw the American landscape as a source of national identity. The history of California art institutions is also relevant. The San Francisco Art Association, for example, was a major force in promoting local artists. Redmond himself overcame deafness to have a successful career. To understand ‘After the Rain’ fully, we might consult exhibition catalogues, artists' biographies, and histories of California art. This would reveal the social and institutional contexts that gave rise to this beautiful painting.