Every Picture Tells a Story

Genre Exhibition Open
National Tour at Dixon
September 24th – November 26th

Open an art history textbook to the chapter on the late l9th century, and one story emerges: Impressionism. However, another important art movement reached its zenith in popularity during this period—the Genre Movement. Redefining Genre: French and American Painting 1855-1900 refocuses well-deserved attention on Genre and its significance.

Since genre painting involved the depiction of episodes from daily life, either contemporary or historical, these paintings were regarded as a source of popular entertainment and education Genre painting appealed to a viewers feelings, creating amusement or sadness depending on the story being told by the artist. Genre could also fulfill a need for adventure by providing glimpses of exotic lands and distant times, allowing viewers to forget daily concerns or worries.

The paintings often were narratives of human interest, illustrating stories or episodes from popular novels. Genre painting played an important role in the lives of those who lived in the 19th century, not unlike that of television or the movies today. In these paintings, the audience saw realistic, understandable images with which they could empathize.

The selection of 75 paintings that compose Redefining Genre is drawn from 40 museums and private collections in France and the United States, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Musee de Peinture et de Sculpture, Grenoble, and the Musee du Petit Palais, Paris.

Redefining Genre is sponsored at the Dixon by ServiceMaster.




Attention Teachers: School Packet Available

Due to the generous support of lead sponsor ServiceMaster, a school information packet on Redefining Genre will be available free of charge for area teachers. The guide will include exhibition background and historical significance, slides, and pre- and post-tour activities. To receive a packet, call Jane Faquin at 761-5250.

Dixon’s New Director Takes Helm
Picture of Dixon Directory Joseph S. Czestochowski assumed the position of director of The Dixon Gallery and Gardens on August 1, 1995. His appointment was announced in June by Dixon Chairman of the Board, Joseph Orgill.


Czestochowski, a New York native, began his museum career in Memphis 22 years ago as a curator at Brooks Memorial Art Gallery. Since 1979, he has been the director of the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Museum of Art. Under his leadership, the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art's permanent collection expanded from 436 to 4,000 works, and the museum moved to a 63,000-square-foot building.

An experienced fund-raiser, Czestochowski dramatically increased the endowment and cash assets of the museum. “Returning to Memphis is like coming home” said Czestochowski. “The Dixon is a young, thriving institution with many outstanding assets, and I look forward to building on the accomplishments of the three previous directors”

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