Robert Henri Quotes - 54 quotes

Robert Henri (1865-1929) was an influential American painter and teacher. He is best known as a leader of the Ashcan School, a movement that focused on depicting the gritty realities of urban life in early 20th-century America. He was born Robert Henry Cozad on June 24, 1865, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Henri studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and later in Paris at the Académie Julian and the École des Beaux-Arts. His early work was influenced by Impressionism, but he soon turned towards a more realistic and socially conscious style. Henri's paintings often featured everyday scenes and people, capturing the vibrancy and struggles of city life. In addition to his painting, Henri was a highly respected teacher. He taught at the New York School of Art and the Art Students League of New York, where he inspired a generation of American artists, including Edward Hopper and George Bellows. His book, "The Art Spirit," published in 1923, remains a seminal text on artistic philosophy and practice. Henri played a key role in organizing the 1910 Exhibition of Independent Artists and the 1913 Armory Show, which introduced American audiences to European modernism. He passed away on July 12, 1929, in New York City. His legacy continues to influence American art and education.