New England Editor 1946

Thomas Hart Benton painted this portrait of a New England Editor. The painting can be viewed through the lens of the Regionalism movement, popular in the United States between the two World Wars. Regionalism sought to create an authentically American art, distinct from European traditions, by depicting scenes of ordinary life. Notice the man's simple attire, the unpretentious furnishings, and the nautical picture, all underscoring an aesthetic of everyday life in the Northern States of America. Benton taught at several art institutions including the Art Students League in New York and the Kansas City Art Institute. His work critiqued the institutions of art at the time. To truly understand this work, one might delve into archives of small-town newspapers or explore the literature of the period. These resources reveal how art often reflects and shapes societal values.