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American Artists
Grandma Moses: An American Original
Presents the life and accomplishments of Anna Mary Robertson, the artist who was known as Grandma Moses, describing her development as an artist, with critiques of her major paintings.
- GenresArtNonfictionHistory
80 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 14, 2026
Translating Life into Art
Folk artist. Memory artist. Though my title comes from a line in this biographical artbook, where it refers to Grandma Moses' habit of painting her memories from her own life; 'translation' is a term used in digital art too, meaning to flip or move a geometric object you've drawn. It is used in that sense of change variously, like the Bible passage in Hebrews eleven that says "by faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death." Art often is life changing, as is music. Often we speak of art as if it is a leisure activity, but the arts in general enrich all of life. This 'translation of life' is in essence what the arts are all about.
Anna Mary Robertson was born in 1860. Her earliest works were worsted embroidery. I did needlepoint, watercolors, and pencil sketching in my early years and taught myself to crochet in my early twenties. But like many, I laid that aside when I began teaching. Robertson, didn't really begin painting in earnest until she was 78 years old. She is better known as Grandma Moses. This enchanting collection of her work reveals just how well she translated her life onto wood. Most of her skill was self-taught from personal interest. So don't feel like you have to be a trained artist to give yourself permission to hold a paintbrush or sketchpad. While untrained art doesn't have a quality familiar to the masses, it is a product of your life, and your vision. Most of us are not very good with it, but it is a way to relax and explore our own life. I consider my own childish attempts 'cross-training' for my writing. And, ultimately it helps me pay attention to the world around me.
My favorite of Grandma Moses' paintings is "Night is Coming," from 1942, oil and tempera on pressed wood (8X10). It pictures an uncharacteristically quiet wooded snowscape with a small cottage with smoke trailing from the chimney. The gray sky reminds me of the real world, the real sky we used to see every evening in the 1900s B.C. (before computers.) The book fills you in on the history of the reasons for the appeal of her agrarian memory art. I recommend this library book highly. It is enjoyable to read and re-read.
Folk artist. Memory artist. Though my title comes from a line in this biographical artbook, where it refers to Grandma Moses' habit of painting her memories from her own life; 'translation' is a term used in digital art too, meaning to flip or move a geometric object you've drawn. It is used in that sense of change variously, like the Bible passage in Hebrews eleven that says "by faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death." Art often is life changing, as is music. Often we speak of art as if it is a leisure activity, but the arts in general enrich all of life. This 'translation of life' is in essence what the arts are all about.
Anna Mary Robertson was born in 1860. Her earliest works were worsted embroidery. I did needlepoint, watercolors, and pencil sketching in my early years and taught myself to crochet in my early twenties. But like many, I laid that aside when I began teaching. Robertson, didn't really begin painting in earnest until she was 78 years old. She is better known as Grandma Moses. This enchanting collection of her work reveals just how well she translated her life onto wood. Most of her skill was self-taught from personal interest. So don't feel like you have to be a trained artist to give yourself permission to hold a paintbrush or sketchpad. While untrained art doesn't have a quality familiar to the masses, it is a product of your life, and your vision. Most of us are not very good with it, but it is a way to relax and explore our own life. I consider my own childish attempts 'cross-training' for my writing. And, ultimately it helps me pay attention to the world around me.
My favorite of Grandma Moses' paintings is "Night is Coming," from 1942, oil and tempera on pressed wood (8X10). It pictures an uncharacteristically quiet wooded snowscape with a small cottage with smoke trailing from the chimney. The gray sky reminds me of the real world, the real sky we used to see every evening in the 1900s B.C. (before computers.) The book fills you in on the history of the reasons for the appeal of her agrarian memory art. I recommend this library book highly. It is enjoyable to read and re-read.
November 20, 2020
Grandma Moses An American Original is an overview of the life and art of Anna Mary Robertson Moses. I liked the pictures of the works chosen, and the way parts of larger paintings were blown up to show detail. It is brief compared to other books I've read about Grandma Moses, yet covers a lot of information, even going into her needlework influences and showing some of her fiber art pictures. The author shows her presidential commission "Eisenhower Home" and the battle scene "The Battle of Bennington". Enjoyable to read and a delight for the eyes.
July 2, 2022
"They call her an American Icon". Her name is synonymous with American folk art. She is known worldwide. She was born Anna Mary Robertson in 1860. She lived until the age of 101, seeing the Civil War and two World Wars, the invention of the car, airplane, and so many other inventions. You may know her as "Grandma Moses".
This book shows and explains 70 full-color illustrations. She primarily lived a rural life, and that's what she painted. She began her career in her seventies.
She was born in Washington County, New York where her parents were farmers. She was one of 10 children.
She married Thomas Moses in 1887, and moved to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. They returned to New York State in 1905. This is when her career began. She was 67 years old. Her work was loved because it was simple, direct, and honest. She was honored by United States presidents from Harry Truman to John F. Kennedy. She corresponded with Winston Churchill, and had her birthday proclaimed to be "Grandma Moses Day" twice by Governor Rockefeller in New York State.
I had never really looked at her work before, until now. It is so colorful and honest. She always shows the beautiful scenery around her subject, and it is so realistic, it's almost as though you could walk into the painting. The people are so real, and are always busy doing whatever it is that they do. This book was so worth the read, I will be looking at the paintings again and again.
Kennedy. She corresponded
This book shows and explains 70 full-color illustrations. She primarily lived a rural life, and that's what she painted. She began her career in her seventies.
She was born in Washington County, New York where her parents were farmers. She was one of 10 children.
She married Thomas Moses in 1887, and moved to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. They returned to New York State in 1905. This is when her career began. She was 67 years old. Her work was loved because it was simple, direct, and honest. She was honored by United States presidents from Harry Truman to John F. Kennedy. She corresponded with Winston Churchill, and had her birthday proclaimed to be "Grandma Moses Day" twice by Governor Rockefeller in New York State.
I had never really looked at her work before, until now. It is so colorful and honest. She always shows the beautiful scenery around her subject, and it is so realistic, it's almost as though you could walk into the painting. The people are so real, and are always busy doing whatever it is that they do. This book was so worth the read, I will be looking at the paintings again and again.
Kennedy. She corresponded
November 12, 2021
Great review of Grandma Moses ! Loved all the pictures - bringing in some of the detail to see it better and all the tales of Grandma Moses life!
March 4, 2023
A renewed appreciation for artists who documented rural domestic and farming life through their art. Also a wonderful story in support of you are never too old to try something new!
June 30, 2025
Such a beautiful book on Grandma Moses’ art. Checked out from the library, Would love to own this
August 5, 2012
Georgeous pictures along with intresting text about Grandma Moses and her work.
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October 27, 2016Great Book. I really enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews