Although the naturalistic art of Walter Anderson (1903—1965) is popular in his native Gulf Coast region and has drawn stylistic comparisons to Van Gogh, his work has never attracted widespread renown. But that may be about to change, thanks to a centennial exhibition of the mercurial Mississippian's work in watercolor and other mediums, which opened at the Smithsonian in late September. Coinciding with the show is a new biography by Christopher Maurer, Fortune's Favorite Child (Univ Press of Mississippi, Nov. 14), and The Art of Walter Anderson, edited by Patricia Pinson, curator of the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs, Miss., which is co-publishing the book with UPM.
Prior to the opening, NPR's Sunday Weekend Edition host Liane Hansen made an on-air tour of the exhibition with Maurer, a Romance languages professor and department chair at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Like Hansen, Washington Post reviewer Paul Richard seemed amazed by the exhibition. "The makers of great American watercolors—Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, John Marin, Charles Demuth—are a select few," he wrote. "Anderson is worthy of inclusion in that company."
According to Smithsonian public affairs specialist Carolyn Martin, such publicity has made the exhibition increasingly popular, with more than 350,000 viewers expected before it moves in January to the Dixon Galleries in Memphis. And Stephen Wood, assistant buyer at the Smithsonian Museum's Arts and Industries Building, told PW the enthusiastic reception has also resulted in surprisingly brisk sales for the catalogue as well as for the nine titles in UPM's Anderson backlist.
The interest in Anderson confirms UPM's faith that he would eventually win a wide appreciation. "People who discover him often ask, 'Why isn't he better known?' " noted associate publisher and marketing manager Hunter Cole. "But we've been here all along, trying to help accomplish that with our Anderson books."
