New society of americans in paris

DEFINITION

Formed in 1908, it was a secessionist movement against the Society of American Artists in Paris and that Society's control of international exhibition recognition. Founding members included Alfred Maurer, Max Weber, John Marin, and Edward Steichen. Among their grievances against the old Society were that it was a "close corporation made up of men of international reputation", which used its influence in Europe to "monopolize honors and emoluments and to keep from recognition any persons not in its good graces." It was written "that while practically every member of the Society of American Painters in Paris is decorated with the Legion of Honor, not more than three or four members of that petrified body are doing anything for American art." Source: "The New York Times", February 26, 1908.