Victor Matson
Encyclopedia
Victor Stanley Matson was one of the California Plein-Air Painters and he was active from the 1920s until his death. He was an active organizer for a number of Southern California
arts organizations and served as President of the historic California Art Club
from 1961 to 1962. His work was widely exhibited with the Southland art clubs in an era when few galleries were interested in Plein-Air landscapes and he had a solo exhibition at Los Angeles City Hall
in 1964.
with a degree in mechanical engineering. Also interested in art, he studied drawing, perspective and rendering while at college. Matson moved to Southern California to take an engineering job in 1922, settling first in Long Beach. Then, in 1924, he and his wife Virgina, purchased a home in South Pasadena just north of Alhambra Park and the Los Angeles suburb of Alhambra.
there was a small arts community on Champion Place, known as "Artist's Alley," where Jack Wilkinson Smith (1873–1949), Frank Tenney Johnson
(1874–1939) and Clyde Forsyth (1885–1962) had their homes and studios and where Norman Rockwell
(1894–1978) spent many of his summers. Matson studied privately and painted with Jack Wilkinson Smith and made trips to the desert to paint with the Alhambra painters. He also studied at the Businessman's Art Institute near downtown with W.T. McDermitt (1884–1961) and privately with Trude Hanscom (1890–1975).
, South Pasadena
and Highland Park, California, on the banks of the large wash that descended from the San Gabriel Mountains
. By the early 1930s, Matson was exhibiting his work. He exhibited extensively with all of the major Southern California art organizations from then until the late 1960s. He won dozens of awards in local and regional competitions including the Purchase Prize at the California Statewide Exhibit in 1943 and 1946, where his paintings joined the official California State Collection. Matson had solo exhibitions at the Los Angeles Arts Center, the Alhambra City Hall, the Glendale Art Association and the Beverly Hills Women's Club. In 1965 he had a special exhibition in the rotunda of the Los Angeles City Hall. During the peak year of Matson's career there were few museum venues or professional galleries interested in traditional paintings that originated out of doors and so artists like Matson were forced to exhibit in less prestigious venues. Matson participated in many shows at places like the Greek Theatre (Los Angeles)
, the Friday Morning Club, the Duncan Vail Galleries, the Hollywood Women's Club, the Pasadena City Library, Bullocks Department Store, the Eden Club and even local banks.
. The "blurred aesthetic" of camera pictorialism
seems to be of natural appeal to an artist who was interested in Impressionism
. He was a member of the Camera Pictorialists of Los Angeles, a group that was founded in 1914 had an annual exhibition at the Los Angeles Museum of History, Science and Art, beginning in 1918. Matson participated in the organizations salons from the 1920s through the late 1930s and he also exhibited internationally. For example, the 1936 catalog from the 19th Annual Salon at the Los Angeles Museum lists two photographs by Matson, "April" and "Angel's Landing, Zion Canyon
." Matson's photographs were usually subjects that were similar to his paintings, landscapes and harbor scenes. He was an active in photography
from the 1920s through the 1940s. His photographs are in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
.
he made woodblock prints of familiar California
subjects like the San Gabriel Mission, palm trees, and his own home. He also studied etching and other printmaking techniques. Among other venues, his prints were exhibited at El Alisal, the Charles Fletcher Lummis
(1859–1928) home in Highland Park, California.
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
arts organizations and served as President of the historic California Art Club
California Art Club
The California Art Club , founded in 1909, is one of the oldest and most active arts organizations in California. It celebrated its centennial in the spring of 2010. The California Art Club originally evolved from the Painters Club of Los Angeles...
from 1961 to 1962. His work was widely exhibited with the Southland art clubs in an era when few galleries were interested in Plein-Air landscapes and he had a solo exhibition at Los Angeles City Hall
Los Angeles City Hall
Los Angeles City Hall, completed 1928, is the center of the government of the city of Los Angeles, California, and houses the mayor's office and the meeting chambers and offices of the Los Angeles City Council...
in 1964.
Childhood and Youth
Matson was born and grew up in Salt Lake City, part of the large community of people of Scandinavian descent that had immigrated in the era of Mormon settlement in the 19th century. He was an excellent student and apparently attended military school and learned to fly as a young man. He graduated from the University of UtahUniversity of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
with a degree in mechanical engineering. Also interested in art, he studied drawing, perspective and rendering while at college. Matson moved to Southern California to take an engineering job in 1922, settling first in Long Beach. Then, in 1924, he and his wife Virgina, purchased a home in South Pasadena just north of Alhambra Park and the Los Angeles suburb of Alhambra.
Art Studies in California
Once he settled in South Pasadena and began working as an engineer for the city of Los Angeles, Matson began to study art in earnest. During the 1920s, Alhambra, CaliforniaAlhambra, California
Alhambra is a city located in the western San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, United States, which is approximately eight miles from the Downtown Los Angeles civic center. As of the 2010 census, the population was 83,089, down from 85,804 at the 2000 census. The city's...
there was a small arts community on Champion Place, known as "Artist's Alley," where Jack Wilkinson Smith (1873–1949), Frank Tenney Johnson
Frank Tenney Johnson
Frank Tenney Johnson was a painter of the american west, and he popularized a style of painting cowboys which became known as "The Johnson Moonlight Technique". Somewhere on the Range is an example of Johnson's moonlight technique...
(1874–1939) and Clyde Forsyth (1885–1962) had their homes and studios and where Norman Rockwell
Norman Rockwell
Norman Percevel Rockwell was a 20th-century American painter and illustrator. His works enjoy a broad popular appeal in the United States for their reflection of American culture. Rockwell is most famous for the cover illustrations of everyday life scenarios he created for The Saturday Evening...
(1894–1978) spent many of his summers. Matson studied privately and painted with Jack Wilkinson Smith and made trips to the desert to paint with the Alhambra painters. He also studied at the Businessman's Art Institute near downtown with W.T. McDermitt (1884–1961) and privately with Trude Hanscom (1890–1975).
Painting career
Victor Matson was part of the Arroyo Arts and Crafts Movement. This movement of artisans and artists was in its last years and was based in and around PasadenaPasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, South Pasadena
South Pasadena, California
South Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 25,619, up from 24,292 at the 2000 census. It is located in in the West San Gabriel Valley...
and Highland Park, California, on the banks of the large wash that descended from the San Gabriel Mountains
San Gabriel Mountains
The San Gabriel Mountains Range is located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, United States. The mountain range lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert, with Interstate 5 to the west and Interstate 15 to the east...
. By the early 1930s, Matson was exhibiting his work. He exhibited extensively with all of the major Southern California art organizations from then until the late 1960s. He won dozens of awards in local and regional competitions including the Purchase Prize at the California Statewide Exhibit in 1943 and 1946, where his paintings joined the official California State Collection. Matson had solo exhibitions at the Los Angeles Arts Center, the Alhambra City Hall, the Glendale Art Association and the Beverly Hills Women's Club. In 1965 he had a special exhibition in the rotunda of the Los Angeles City Hall. During the peak year of Matson's career there were few museum venues or professional galleries interested in traditional paintings that originated out of doors and so artists like Matson were forced to exhibit in less prestigious venues. Matson participated in many shows at places like the Greek Theatre (Los Angeles)
Greek Theatre (Los Angeles)
The Greek Theatre is a 5,700-seat amphitheater, located at Griffith Park, in Los Angeles, California. It was built in 1929, opening on September 29 of that year...
, the Friday Morning Club, the Duncan Vail Galleries, the Hollywood Women's Club, the Pasadena City Library, Bullocks Department Store, the Eden Club and even local banks.
Camera Pictorialism
Victor Matson was part of the large pictorialist movement in Southern CaliforniaSouthern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. The "blurred aesthetic" of camera pictorialism
Pictorialism
Pictorialism is the name given to a photographic movement in vogue from around 1885 following the widespread introduction of the dry-plate process. It reached its height in the early years of the 20th century, and declined rapidly after 1914 after the widespread emergence of Modernism...
seems to be of natural appeal to an artist who was interested in Impressionism
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s...
. He was a member of the Camera Pictorialists of Los Angeles, a group that was founded in 1914 had an annual exhibition at the Los Angeles Museum of History, Science and Art, beginning in 1918. Matson participated in the organizations salons from the 1920s through the late 1930s and he also exhibited internationally. For example, the 1936 catalog from the 19th Annual Salon at the Los Angeles Museum lists two photographs by Matson, "April" and "Angel's Landing, Zion Canyon
Zion Canyon
Zion Canyon is a deep and narrow gorge in southwestern Utah, United States, carved by the North Fork of the Virgin River...
." Matson's photographs were usually subjects that were similar to his paintings, landscapes and harbor scenes. He was an active in photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
from the 1920s through the 1940s. His photographs are in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is an art museum in Los Angeles, California. It is located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles, adjacent to the George C. Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits....
.
Printmaking
Matson was an enthusiastic printmaker. In the 1920s, he studied with Franz Geritz (1895–1945), one of Southern California's preeminent printmakers. In the last days of the Arts and Crafts MovementArts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
he made woodblock prints of familiar California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
subjects like the San Gabriel Mission, palm trees, and his own home. He also studied etching and other printmaking techniques. Among other venues, his prints were exhibited at El Alisal, the Charles Fletcher Lummis
Charles Fletcher Lummis
Charles Fletcher Lummis was a United States journalist and Indian activist; he is also acclaimed as a historian, photographer, poet and librarian....
(1859–1928) home in Highland Park, California.
Leadership of Southland Art Organizations
For several decades, Matson was one of the most active artists on the Southern California art club scene. He served as an officer for virtually every Southland art organization and was President of the California Art Club, the Painters and Sculptors Club and the Scandinavian-American Art Association. Matson and his wife Virginia, who was an Honorary Member of the California Art Club, helped to organize exhibits for many of the clubs at a time when few galleries were interested in the Impressionist landscapes. Between World War II and the mid-1970s, when interest in Plein-Air painting was at its lowest ebb, he played a crucial role in keeping these traditional organizations operating and the painterly landscape before the public.Methods and Assessment
Matston's work all originated out of doors with pencil sketches or small paintings. He usually worked "en plein air" in sizes ranging from 16" x 20" to 18" x 24". Matson augmented his outdoor studies with notes and photographs. He "worked up" larger paintings in the studio, which usually ranged from 22" x 28" to 26" x 32." There is no record of Matson painting major "exhibition size" works. He painted more scenes of the Mojave desert than any other location and he joined Sam Hyde Harris on many trips to the desert. Matson did paint coastal landscapes and marines on occasion, but they are rare in his oeuvre. Matson did paint in the Sierras, but his trips there were infrequent. He did a few scenes of Utah and Colorado during family vacations. Matson's style of work was straightforward, heavily influenced by his teacher Jack Wilkinson Smith, but it seldom had the subtlety of Smith's work or the awareness of light that was the hallmark of the finest California Plein-Air Painters. His work could be somewhat "blocky" and stylized with large planes of broad brushwork. Matson was never a major California painter but he served as an important link in maintaining the Plein-Air tradition.See also
- ImpressionismImpressionismImpressionism was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s...
- California Plein-Air PaintingCalifornia Plein-Air PaintingThe term California Plein-Air Painting describes the large movement of 20th century California artists who worked out of doors, directly from nature in California, United States. Their work became popular in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California in the first three decades after the...
- American ImpressionismAmerican ImpressionismImpressionism, a style of painting characterized by loose brushwork and vivid colors, was practiced widely among American artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.-An emerging artistic style from Paris:...
- En plein airEn plein airEn plein air is a French expression which means "in the open air", and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors.Artists have long painted outdoors, but in the mid-19th century working in natural light became particularly important to the Barbizon school and Impressionism...
- California Art ClubCalifornia Art ClubThe California Art Club , founded in 1909, is one of the oldest and most active arts organizations in California. It celebrated its centennial in the spring of 2010. The California Art Club originally evolved from the Painters Club of Los Angeles...
- PictorialismPictorialismPictorialism is the name given to a photographic movement in vogue from around 1885 following the widespread introduction of the dry-plate process. It reached its height in the early years of the 20th century, and declined rapidly after 1914 after the widespread emergence of Modernism...
- Landscape artLandscape artLandscape art is a term that covers the depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests, and especially art where the main subject is a wide view, with its elements arranged into a coherent composition. In other works landscape backgrounds for figures can still...
- PrintmakingPrintmakingPrintmaking is the process of making artworks by printing, normally on paper. Printmaking normally covers only the process of creating prints with an element of originality, rather than just being a photographic reproduction of a painting. Except in the case of monotyping, the process is capable...
- Woodblock printingWoodblock printingWoodblock printing is a technique for printing text, images or patterns used widely throughout East Asia and originating in China in antiquity as a method of printing on textiles and later paper....
Memberships and Affiliations
- California Art Club, Los Angeles, California (President, 1961–1962)
- Painters and Sculptors of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (President, 1964)
- Laguna Beach Artists Association, Laguna Beach, California
- American Artists Professional League, New York, New York
- Valley Artists Guild, Los Angeles, California
- Scandanvian-American Art Association, Los Angeles, California
- San Gabriel Artists Association, San Gabriel, California
- The Camera Pictorialists of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Print Makers Society of California, Los Angeles, California
- Businessmen's Art Institute, Los Angeles, California