Laughing Girl, Robert Henri

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.