American Art: Then and Now

Are you all right?

I have heard you say the opposite; and criticize similar statements. Recently, in fact...

Example? Never happened. I have never liked the vast majority of the art of pre-Gilded Age America. There was some interesting writing (although not much in the way of fiction) prior to that time, but the art was mostly atrocious or lackluster at best. What I said recently had nothing to do with what I am talking about here: the culture of pre-1800s America. It was all too stilted and heavily influenced by our Puritan heritage. Right around the time of the Gilded Age our culture took off, and then it was able to compete with Europe's, but not until then.

I suspect I know what is at play, but I will not say it; it's not meant to cause a flame war.

I suspect you don't. Let's not get into projection.