Regionalism in American Art and Literature

What was the significance of Regionalism in American art and literature during 1928-1943?

How did artists and writers use this movement to depict American life and ideals?

Regionalism in American Art and Literature during 1928-1943

Regionalism during 1928-1943 was an artistic and literary movement that illustrated American life and ideals during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl by combining modern sensibilities with narratives of everyday figures, and also served as a medium for women writers to explore deeper themes.

Regionalism is a literary and artistic term that gained prominence post the American Civil War and influenced the rise of Realism. During the period of 1928 - 1943, it encapsulated a style capturing the essence of American life amidst economic and environmental crises, such as the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Artists like Thomas Hart Benton, Grant Wood, and John Steuart Curry, who depicted heroic images of rural America, epitomized this movement. Their works blended modern abstract sensibilities with narratives that embody strong, stoic American figures, thus aligning with the democratic ideals of the era.

In literature, regionalism also helped in narrating stories from a more personal and empathetic perspective, often featuring strong, three-dimensional protagonists. Moreover, it became a platform for women writers like Sarah Orne Jewett, Mary Wilkins Freeman, and Kate Chopin to explore themes of self-agency and fulfillment within the constraints of a male-dominated culture.