American Beauties (and Bargains)

Finding a deal in Impressionist art.

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People who buy and sell art generally cleave to a simple maxim: As work from one movement grows expensive and scarce, it's time to find others that are lesser known and less costly. A top-quality French Impressionist painting--if you can find one for sale--can cost $7 million and beyond. But works by American artists who worked in a similar style offer opportunities for collectors. Even in the priciest areas, like classical American Impressionism, you can still find some quality pieces (and quality investments) for less than $100,000. Below are a few American impressionist schools and their leading lights.

American impressionism

William Merritt Chase and Childe Hassam are the masters of the entire category. Pastels by John Twachtman can be found for $50,000 and up.

Example: Hassam's Rue Montmartre, Paris, 1888

California impressionism

Masters include Guy Rose and Granville Redmond. Percy Gray's watercolors can cost below $70,000.

Example: Gray's Landscape With Eucalyptus, 1921

Midwest impressionism

Frederick Frieseke and Richard Miller are the masters. Some works by T.C. Steele and Louis Ritman can be found for less than $100,000.

Example: Ritman's Woman in a Rowboat, 1913