During the Civil War, an independent regional landscape movement began to develop in

Louisiana. The introduction of photography and the poor economic climate after the Civil War

contributed to the diminished prominence of portraits. Many artists found the unique rural

landscape a worthy subject. The bayous, swamps, and cabins proved to be an endless

source of inspiration. Led by Richard Clague and continued by other artists including Joseph

Meeker and William Buck, the landscape movement continued to thrive after the war.

After the Civil War, more Louisiana artists began to depict scenes from everyday life, a

movement known as genre painting. These paintings covered a range of objects from the

streets of New Orleans to the rural environments of farmers and fishermen.

By the 1880s, an organized art community started to emerge in New Orleans, centered on

an active group of professional artists who worked in a variety of styles, subject matters, and

media. They organized the Southern Art Union, an association of professionals and

amateurs working throughout the South, in 1880. The union held exhibitions and opened an

art school staffed by prominent local artists, including Andres Molinary and Achille Perelli.

Although the Southern Art Union was fairly short-lived, its mission and goals were adopted

by Artists’ Association of New Orleans, founded in 1885, and led the way for future art

organizations.

The 1880s marked another watershed in the history of Louisiana art when brothers William and

Ellsworth Woodward arrived to teach at Tulane University and Newcomb College. For over

thirty years they played influential roles as teachers, artists, and leaders in the local and

southern art communities. The Woodward's were guiding forces in the establishment of the

crafts department at Newcomb College, which became internationally known for its pottery

and crafts.

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