Irma René Koen (1883-1975)
Overview
Irma René Koen (1883-1975)
Irma René Koen (born Irma Julia Kohn) was a modern American painter from Rock Island, Illinois (1883–1975). She studied at the Art Institute of Chicago with well-known artists like Charles Francis Browne and John Christen Johansen. While based in Rock Island or Chicago, she often spent summers painting in scenic places like Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Maine. In Maine, she painted with members of the New Hope Circle of Impressionists, including William Langson Lathrop and Henry Bayley Snell.
Irma painted in many parts of the U.S., including Illinois, California, New Mexico, and along the East Coast. She also traveled and painted in England (especially in the art colony of St. Ives, Cornwall), France, Spain, Africa, and Asia. She kept art studios in several places throughout her life, including Rock Island, Chicago, East Gloucester and Rockport (Massachusetts), Paris, and Cuernavaca, Mexico.
Beyond painting, Irma had many talents. In her youth, she danced in local theater and played the cello. She also taught art, judged art shows, and supported the growth of modern art in the Midwest through her work on civic art committees. A passionate traveler, she gave lectures and wrote about her journeys, her art, and even flower arranging.
After moving to Mexico permanently in 1944, Irma continued to travel and paint. Her colorful outdoor scenes, watercolors, and gouache works were shown in galleries and museums for nearly 70 years — in cities like San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Paris, and throughout Mexico.
Works
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Path to the House
Biography
Irma René Koen (born Irma Julia Kohn) was a modern American painter from Rock Island, Illinois (1883–1975). She studied at the Art Institute of Chicago with well-known artists like Charles Francis Browne and John Christen Johansen. While based in Rock Island or Chicago, she often spent summers painting in scenic places like Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Maine. In Maine, she painted with members of the New Hope Circle of Impressionists, including William Langson Lathrop and Henry Bayley Snell.
Irma painted in many parts of the U.S., including Illinois, California, New Mexico, and along the East Coast. She also traveled and painted in England (especially in the art colony of St. Ives, Cornwall), France, Spain, Africa, and Asia. She kept art studios in several places throughout her life, including Rock Island, Chicago, East Gloucester and Rockport (Massachusetts), Paris, and Cuernavaca, Mexico.
Beyond painting, Irma had many talents. In her youth, she danced in local theater and played the cello. She also taught art, judged art shows, and supported the growth of modern art in the Midwest through her work on civic art committees. A passionate traveler, she gave lectures and wrote about her journeys, her art, and even flower arranging.
After moving to Mexico permanently in 1944, Irma continued to travel and paint. Her colorful outdoor scenes, watercolors, and gouache works were shown in galleries and museums for nearly 70 years — in cities like San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Paris, and throughout Mexico.
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