In the Loop, Chicago

William Clusmann, born in North La Porte, Indiana studied at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts (now known as the Art Institute of Chicago), and then attended the Royal Academy in Munich Germany. In 1884, upon returning to the United States, Clussman specialized in colorful Impressionistic landscapes which differed drastically from his fellow German-taught American artists. Later in his career Clusmann concentrated on cityscapes, specifically in and around Chicago. In the Loop, Chicago epitomizes Clusmann's subject matter and style. In the present work, Clusmann captures Chicago's Financial district in all its prosperity and optimism of pre-depression Chicago. Clusmann exhibited at the Worlds Columbian Exhibition in 1893, and at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts.