Gypsy with Cigarette 1906

Robert Henri painted 'Gypsy with Cigarette' using oil on canvas. Look at the way Henri built up the face of the gypsy. It's all about direct, visible strokes, less about blending, more about the gesture. The texture is pretty smooth, but you can still see how the brush moved, especially around the edges of the face and in the folds of that vibrant red scarf. Henri doesn’t hide anything; he lets you in on his process. He's laying down these marks with a real sense of immediacy, capturing something raw and in the moment. Take the area just above the gypsy's right eye – the way he suggests the brow with a few quick strokes tells you everything you need to know. Henri reminds me a bit of Manet in his attention to the modern subject and his loose, painterly touch, but with a uniquely American sensibility. Ultimately, art is about openness. It invites you to wander, to question, and to find your own way.