Edward Willis Redfield
(1869-1965)

Think that you may own a painting by Edward Willis Redfield? We authenticate, appraise, research and issue Certificates of Authenticity (COA) and provide consultations for all paintings by Edward Willis Redfield.

Edward Willis Redfield was an American Impressionist painter, born in Bridgeville Delaware. Redfield is known for painting the landscape in New Hope, Pennsylvania, where he belonged to an artist colony. Redfield was interested in art from early age and relocated to Philadelphia in 1887 to study at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

In Philadelphia, Redfield became acquainted with leading artists who greatly impacted his career. One such friend was Robert Henri, who later spearheaded the formation of the Aschcan School of painters. Redfield did not follow the Ashcan school’s migration to New York, but decided to continue his studies in Paris. Redfield enrolled at the Académie Julian and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. In France, Redfield identified with the Impressionist work of Monet and Pissarro. Redfield would continue to paint impressionist landscapes for the duration of his career.

Redfield returned to the United States with his French wife, settling in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Along with fellow artist, William Langson Lathrop, Redfield turned the rural town of New Hope into a thriving art colony.

In the tradition of impressionist plein-air painters, Redfield painted outside rather than in a studio. Redfield painted year-round, weathering the snowy winters of Pennsylvania. Redfield completed his paintings rather quickly and often in the course of one day. He notoriously painted with a thick and direct application of paint.

Redfield was successful in exhibiting his work in Pennsylvania and across the nation. In 1915 Redfield exhibited numerous paintings in the Panama-Pacific International Exhibition in San Francisco.

While Redfield’s reputation became known in the United States from coast to coast, Redfield grew dissatisfied with his own work and stopped painting around 1947. Redfield’s self-criticism did not deter collectors from buying his work.

Redfield’s paintings are now in museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC. Redfield has made a lasting mark on American Impressionism. Do you think you own a painting by Edward Willis Redfield? Contact us. We are the Edward Willis Redfield experts.