Bucko O'Malley (Charles) 1924

Robert Henri painted "Bucko O'Malley" with visible brushstrokes, giving us a peek into the painting process itself. The texture is palpable, like he’s sculpting with paint rather than just applying color. It's really interesting to see how the thick strokes define the shadows and folds in Bucko's clothes, while the face is rendered with softer, more blended strokes. The quick, decisive marks create a sense of immediacy, as if Henri captured the boy in a fleeting moment. Look at the way he uses color in the background, that purple against Bucko’s ruddy cheeks and cool cap. It's not just about representation; it's about feeling the energy of the scene. Henri's approach reminds me a bit of Manet, in the way he fearlessly lays down paint and embraces the unfinished quality of the work. It's like he’s saying, "Here it is, the raw beauty of a moment captured in paint." And that, for me, is where the real magic lies.