Robert Henri was an American painter who was a leading figure of the Realist movement. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and he studied art in Philadelphia and New York City. Henri’s work was influenced by the works of Jean-Francois Millet and Gustave Courbet, two French painters known for their Realist art.
In 1898, Henri traveled to Europe where he was further influenced by the Realist painters. When he returned to America, he became an influential teacher at the New York School of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Henri believed that art should be about everyday life and should be accessible to everyone. He organized an exhibition of American Realist paintings in 1908 called “The Eight” because eight artists were featured in it (including George Luks).
Henri’s paintings are characterized by their bold brushstrokes and dark colors; his subjects were often working-class people and urban landscapes. He died in 1929 at age 67 after being struck by a car while crossing a street in Paris (France).
