Arthur Wesley Dow

Profession: Artist and Educator

Biography: Arthur Wesley Dow was an American artist and educator, known for his innovative ideas about the teaching of visual arts. His philosophies and teaching methodologies helped shape the development of modern art education in the United States.

Dow was initially a painter and printmaker. He studied at the Massachusetts Normal Art School (now Massachusetts College of Art and Design) and later in Paris at the Académie Julian. Dow's most significant impact, however, was in his work as an art instructor.

Dow's approach to art education was revolutionary for its time. He emphasized principles of design and the use of line, color, and notan (a Japanese word referring to the interplay of light and dark) as opposed to the mere copying of nature or the emulation of classical works, which was the standard teaching method in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He encouraged students to express themselves through harmonious compositions and to study art from many different cultures.

He authored a seminal textbook, Composition: Understanding Line, Notan and Color (1899), which became a standard instructional text in American art education. The book outlines his philosophy and approach, offering exercises to develop artistic sensibility through the understanding of composition, rather than through rote reproduction of subjects.

Dow taught at several institutions, including Pratt Institute and Teachers College, Columbia University, where he influenced a generation of artists and teachers. Among his students was Georgia O'Keeffe, who would later credit Dow with having a significant impact on her development as an artist.

Born: April 6, 1857
Birthplace: Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA
Star Sign: Aries

Died: December 13, 1922 (aged 65)