The Reader in the Forest 1918

Robert Henri's "The Reader in the Forest" is a mood piece, I'm guessing made with pastels or charcoal, where mark-making is everything. Look at how he's built this scene. It's all about layers, scribbles, and these delicious smudges that create atmosphere. It feels like he's trying to capture a fleeting moment, a sense of quiet absorption that's both visual and emotional. I'm really drawn to the base of the tree, and the strange, pale undergrowth. The texture is built up, almost crusty, and the way the light hits it makes it feel alive, like it's breathing, like a spirit. It’s like Henri is saying that art isn't just about the image; it's about the whole process, the physicality of the materials. I see some Cezanne in this. It's like he's whispering, "Hey, it's okay to leave the brushstrokes visible. It's okay to let the process show." It's all part of the story.