Susan Watkins Paintings

Susan Watkins was an American painter and author known for her involvement in the early 20th-century art scene in Paris. Born in 1875 in Salem, Massachusetts, Watkins was raised in a culturally rich environment that fostered her interest in the arts from a young age. She studied painting at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and later traveled to Paris to further her education, which was a common path for many American artists seeking advanced training and exposure to the European art world.

During her time in Paris, Watkins became part of the vibrant expatriate community, mingling with influential artists and writers of the time. She studied at the Académie Colarossi and the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, two of the most prestigious art schools in the city that welcomed female students. Her work during this period was influenced by Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, as well as by the evolving styles of the early modernist movement.

Watkins exhibited her work at various salons and galleries, gaining recognition for her paintings which often depicted landscapes, still lifes, and portraits. She was associated with other notable artists and intellectuals, including Gertrude Stein, with whom she maintained a friendship. Despite her connections and talent, like many women artists of her time, Watkins did not achieve the same level of fame as some of her male counterparts.

In addition to her painting, Watkins also expressed her creativity through writing. She authored a book titled 'On the Art of the Theatre' which reflected her views on theatrical production and design. Her literary contributions provided insight into the cross-disciplinary dialogues that were happening among artists and thinkers of the era.

Watkins' later years saw her returning to the United States, where she continued to paint and write until her death in 1962. Her legacy is that of an artist who navigated the complexities of the art world as an American woman in Paris during a time of great artistic evolution. Her works are held in private collections and occasionally appear in exhibitions focusing on expatriate artists in Paris during the early 20th century.