Young Anthony 1928

Robert Henri painted Young Anthony with oils, sometime between 1865 and 1929, capturing a sitter who seems both present and far away. Henri's brushwork is loose and lively, and it reminds me that painting is as much about the process as it is about the subject. Looking closely, I see how the warmth of Anthony's face and hair is made through dabs of coral and gold, set against a cool background of charcoal greys and browns. The texture of the paint is built up in layers, creating a tangible surface that invites you to reach out and touch it, and in this dark light you can see the legacy of masters like Manet. Notice how Henri applied the paint, especially in the face, where the strokes of the brush are so visible, like the artist is trying to get something down really quickly, before it disappears. Henri's focus on capturing the immediacy of life aligns him with artists like John Singer Sargent. Both artists embraced the ambiguity of representation, where the act of painting is just as important as what is being depicted.