William Keith: A Pioneer of California Tonalism Born in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on November 18, 1838, William Keith’s artistic journey took him from the rugged landscapes of his homeland to the sun-drenched vistas of California, ultimately establishing him as a significant figure in American Tonalism and the broader American Barbizon school. His early life was marked by a swift relocation to New York City with his family, an experience that instilled in him a pragmatic approach to art – one rooted not in grand narratives or dramatic displays but in quiet observation and the subt…