Celebrating Chicago Artists: Selections from the M. Christine Schwartz Gift

You're on the Art Institute's front steps about a century ago, looking west along Adams Street. On the left sits the brick bulk of the Pullman Building, flags hang off the facades, the elevated station over Wabash closes off the view, and cars choke the street below. William Clusmann painted it in the 1920s. The Pullman Building was demolished in the 1950s.

That canvas is one of five paintings collector M. Christine Schwartz gave the Driehaus in 2025, and this display is a selection from that gift, which also includes work by two women painters, Pauline Dohn and Lucie Hartrath. The museum frames it as Chicago painting moving from academic naturalism to impressionism. Clusmann made that move himself: he started on the smoke-darkened Chicago River before turning to brighter street scenes.

It's a small collection display rather than a full exhibition, included in general admission ($23 for adults, free for children 12 and under). Wednesdays from 4 to 7pm are pay what you wish.