The Stone Wall with Woods 1918

Robert Henri made this painting of a stone wall with woods in thick strokes of oil. The application is gestural, and the effect is immediate. Henri seems to be interested in capturing the sensation of light filtering through the trees. The texture is built up with layers of paint, particularly noticeable in the foreground, where the earth and foliage are rendered with a kind of rough, almost sculptural quality. The greens are intense, verging on the unnatural, yet the overall impression is one of immersive naturalism. I love the way he suggests depth with that acid green light toward the back. I see a bit of Marsden Hartley in this. Both artists shared a love for the American landscape and a willingness to push the boundaries of realism in pursuit of emotional truth. Ultimately, it’s this ambiguity, this embrace of multiple interpretations, that makes art so endlessly compelling.