Laughing Girl, Robert Henri

Artwork Overview

1865–1929
Laughing Girl, circa 1913
Where object was made: United States
Material/technique: canvas; oil
Dimensions:
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 61 x 50.8 cm
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 24 x 20 in
Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial
Accession number: 1928.1786
Not on display

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Images

Label texts

Exhibition Label: "Corpus," Apr-2012, Natalie Svacina Robert Henri (pronounced HEN-rye) emphasized the pride in humanity that he believed existed within children. Through quick brushstrokes, planes of pure color, and thick layers of oil paint, he captures the feeling of childhood as well as the personality of his subject. This sense of authenticity in painting grew out of a journalistic need to record the social injustices of modern city life. Henri was a member of the Ash Can School, a group of artists in the 19th century who were best known for depicting gritty scenes of everyday urbanism. While other artists portrayed the offspring of well-to-do patrons, Henri’s subjects were often working-class children. The lack of the child’s name in the title may indicate his practice of dressing up street urchins with studio props such as this pearl necklace. Label Aug-2007: This painting, one of his many portraits of children, shows Henri's ability to capture the character of his sitters. His rough style pays particular attention to the lighting contrast of his subject. Henri often expressed his view of art and life by saying: "The beauty in a work of art is in the work itself." Henri (pronounced "hen-rye" with a decidedly American flavor) initially studied at the Pennsylvania Academy, but left in 1888 for Paris where he studied at the Academie Julian. He disliked academic methods that were concerned with detail and realistic representation; however, the avant-garde style of impressionism, characterized by its attempt to capture the eye's initial understanding of light, atmosphere, and movement, appealed to him. Two years later, Henri returned to Philadelphia where he joined a group of young American painters self-proclaimed "The Eight." This group, which included George Luks, became known as "The Ash Can School," so-named for their realistic portrayal of urban life in America. Archive Label 1999: Henri (pronounced "hen-rye" with a decidedly American flavor) initially studied at the Pennsylvania Academy, but left in 1888 for Paris where he studied at the Academie Julian. He disliked academic methods that were concerned with detail and realistic representation; however, the avant-garde style of impressionism, characterized by its attempt to capture the eye's initial understanding of light, atmosphere, and movement, appealed to him. Two years later, Henri returned to Philadelphia where he joined a group of young American painters self-proclaimed "The Eight." This group, which included George Luks, became known as "The Ash Can School," so-named for their realistic portrayal of urban life in America. This painting, one of his many portraits of children, shows Henri's ability to capture the character of his sitters. His rough style pays particular attention to the lighting contrast of his subject. Henri often expressed his view of art and life by saying: "The beauty in a work of art is in the work itself.

Resources

Audio

Didactic – Art Minute
Didactic – Art Minute
I'm David Cateforis with another art minute from the Spencer Museum of Art. At the south end of the Spencer’s 18th and 19th century gallery hangs a portrait of Mrs. Brice and Child by the American artist Rembrandt Peale, an 1812 copy of an earlier portrait by his father, Charles Willson Peale. Note the generally pale colors, the dark background, the oval faces and triangular composition, the repetition of pearls on Mrs. Brice’s gown, the fine brush work, and the stillness of the pose and setting - all suggesting a quality of timelessness. Now walk to the north end of the 19th century gallery to find Robert Henri’s 1910 painting, Laughing Girl. Many of the same elements of the Peale portrait are present here: a dark background, somewhat oval face, and repetition of pearls in the necklace. But my how things have changed in 100 years. The face colors in the Henri are vivid, the brushwork is coarse and rapid. His picture is full of spontaneous energy, suggesting that if he had painted it a few moments later, the girl’s pose would have been completely different. Henri is said to have commented that if you couldn’t paint a portrait in an hour, you probably were not very good. With thanks to William Hamilton for his text, from the Spencer Museum of Art, I'm David Cateforis.