A gallery full of art as a legacy

AMENIA — An internationally recognized medical illustrator who became a master watercolorist over his lifetime, Carl T. Linden moved to Amenia in 1976 for the last five years of his life. 

He was the father of noted artisan sign maker and community leader, Ann Linden, of Amenia, who passed away in 2017. Ann was his only child, and the last of the Linden line. Her husband, Chris Keane, full of respect for his father-in-law, is honoring his wife’s passion for supporting local arts education programs, as well as her connection to the Maplebrook School. Now the private school for those geared to help students overcome their learning differences located on Route 22 in Amenia is hosting an exhibit of more than 60 works. The school’s website promises to link to more Linden artwork.

Hundreds of oil paintings and watercolors were found stashed in closets, trunks, under Carl’s bed and in the barn studio. His dresser held a few rare original ink illustrations. 

He was very versed in three different disciplines: medical illustration, traditional oil painting and plein air watercolor. As an American midcentury artist, Carl was influenced by the Ashcan school that elevated scenes of daily life and rustic landscapes. He was a formalist, steeped in traditions and favored a palette not unlike Rembrandt’s. 

Straight out of college, Carl won a residency to the prestigious MacDowell Colony in New Hampshire. When the Great Depression hit, he and his wife took his paints and their wedding cash first to Mallorca, Spain, then St. Cirq-Lapopie, France. 

The landscapes of the Mediterranean shores, the hilltop villages of southwestern France, and still lifes are the subjects of the oil paintings on view at Maplebrook. 

Carl worked as a noted professor of medical illustration at the Illinois College of Medicine. He taught by example as he illustrated medical textbooks that set the standard of his day. 

The book reviews cited his detailed clarity and the technical completeness of each image. Carl took his own photographs in surgical theaters and rendered the images in layers of ink washes. The current exhibit features Carl’s drawing desk surrounded by textbooks and original illustrations.

On weekends and holidays, Carl sought to liberate himself from the rigors of technical illustrations and devote himself instead to painting watercolor scenes of landscape and laborers. It was a complete jump to looseness and spontaneity. His colors sing. 

Everywhere he went, he painted. The water’s edge was always a recurring theme, and his watercolors are noted for their riffs of shadow and reflection. He used gestures and strokes of paint that marvel with their deceptively simple shorthand. 

In addition to Carl’s many works, there is a section of his daughter Ann’s drawings. Ann served for many years on the Maplebrook School’s art show committee and eventually became a Board trustee and then Foundation director for more than 10 years. 

She was a recipient of the school’s prestigious President’s Award for outstanding service to her community. Her ideas enhanced the Arts program and were instrumental to the success of the school’s annual Art Show. 

The exhibit is up through Dec. 30 by appointment or special event. It will also be found on the school’s website, www.maplebrookschool.org. 

Maplebrook School is at 5142 Route 22. Contact the school for an appointment at artgallery@maplebrookschool.org or call Jessica at 845-373-9511, ext. 253.

Tilly Strauss is a local artist and the North East Town Clerk.