Edward Potthast

1857 - 1927

Edward Potthast was one of a large group of Cincinnati painters who migrated to Cape Ann around the turn of the century. Others included John Twachtman, Joseph DeCamp, and Frank Duveneck.

During the 1880s and early 90s, Potthast shuttled back and forth between Cincinnati and Europe, studying in Antwerp, Munich, and Paris, first at the Academie Julian and later at Fountain-bleau, Barbizon, and Grez, where he fell under the influence of the Impressionists. In 1895 he moved to New York City and made his first recorded trip to Cape Ann in 1896. He returned to Gloucester almost every summer for the next twenty-five years.

Potthast is primarily known as a painter of sun-drenched beach scenes depicting carefree women and children. In addition to the relatively rare portraits, however, there are also several Potthast paintings of Gloucester harbor and the Cape Ann coast.