Edmund Tarbell

American impressionistic painter Edmund Tarbell was the son of British immigrants who came to the United States in the 17th century. From an early age, he demonstrated his love for art and his artistic skills. Tarbell studied in Boston and Paris.

After his return to the US, Tarbell earned his living as an illustrator, portraitist, and art teacher. He became head of the Boston School at the Museum for Fine Arts and gained significant influence on the development of the local art scene. In 1919 he was director of the prestigious art school at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington.

Tarbell is regarded as one of the best American Impressionist painters. He was a member of the 10 American Painters, who were major exponents of the Impressionist style, a style which originated in the early 19th century. Its main characteristics were open compositions, and the accurate depiction of light, despite rather thin, yet visible brush strokes.

My Children in the Woods, one of his well-known paintings, was in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and is now in a private collection. Tarbell painted the picture in 1911 in oil on canvas sized 128.2 x 40.3 cm.