Rachael Robinson Elmer

Rachael Robinson Elmer (1878-1919) was an American artist from Vermont, who gained notability as a painter of postcards of New York City, which "changed the world of American postcards".[1]

Biography

Elmer was born in 1878 in Rokeby, Vermont (the family home is a National Historic Landmark), into an artistic family: her father was an illustrator, her mother a painter. In elementary school already she took painting classes in Burlington, and first traveled to New York City, and fell in love with it, at age 12. After high school she lived in Burlington where she worked and taught in a studio, but returned to New York when she was 20, and joined the Art Students League. One of the formative influences on her art was Childe Hassam, specifically for his scenes of city life.[1]

A friend prompted her in 1911 to make a series of postcards portraying the city, and she picked twelve scenes, painting them in impressionistic style. It took her two years to find a publisher, but when she did, "Art Lover’s New York Series" (1914) became an overnight success,[1] selling in "many upscale New York City boutiques",[2] and inspired other artist to likewise paint postcards of city scenes. She published a second series (of only six cards) in 1914, this time in Art Deco style, but with less success.[1]

Elmer died of the Spanish flu in 1919, at age 40.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Williamson, Jane (25 March 2014). "Williamson For Women's History Month: Rachael Robinson Elmer". Vermont Public Radio. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  2. ↑ Levine, Edward J. (2006). Central Park. Arcadia. p. 102. ISBN 9781439618127.
  3. ↑ Clifford, Deborah (2009). More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Vermont women. Globe Pequot. pp. 63–73. ISBN 9780762743063.
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