Concarneau Terrace / Brittany Street Scene c. 1899

Robert Henri’s ink wash drawing captures a street scene in Concarneau, a port in Brittany, France, likely created in the late 19th or early 20th century. Henri, an American artist, was drawn to the area, as were many artists of the time, for its picturesque qualities and traditional Breton culture. The scene depicts a bustling street, filled with figures rendered in quick, gestural strokes that evoke the energy of modern life. What kind of modern life was this? The choice of Concarneau is important; while beautiful, it was an active industrial space, and the integration of working people into the scene would have resonated with Henri's artistic philosophy. He sought to portray everyday life with honesty and empathy, a progressive stance against the more conservative academic art of his time. To better understand, we can look at other artists and their representations of everyday modern life, from photography, painting, to popular print. It's through this historical lens that we can truly appreciate the image's significance as a document of a specific time and place.