Revolutionaries of Realism

by John French Sloan

In the saga of American art's coming-of-age, Robert Henri (1865-1929) and John Sloan (1871-1951) stand tall among those in the vanguard of the campaign. These two major American artists were kindred spirits who maintained a special friendship throughout their lives, from the moment they met in 1892 until Henri's death thirty-seven years later. This volume offers the first publication of the full correspondence between the two painters. These intimate letters capture the opinions, working habits, and various traumas of Henri and Sloan, thus casting a new light on their lives and art. Many of the letters are illustrated with previously unpublished examples--Henri's quickly sketched caricatures and Sloan's more carefully detailed and drawn compositions. Readers of these letters will also find passages that provide fresh perspectives on well-known paintings and published statements.

Robert Henri spearheaded the transition in American art from nineteenth-century academicism to twentieth-century self- expressionism, and John Sloan was an invaluable partner in this movement. As the leaders of the Ashcan School, Henri and Sloan proclaimed that all life was fit subject matter for the artist, and organized the landmark exhibition of The Eight--a group that included Maurice Prendergast and Arthur B. Davies--in 1908. These letters make mention of such individuals as William Glackens, George Luks, Everett Shinn, Ernest Lawson, Alexander Milne Calder, and Isadora Duncan, as well as others among the Henri-Sloan circle.

Hardcover

First published May 12, 1997

About the author

John French Sloan (August 2, 1871 – September 7, 1951) was an American painter and etcher. He is considered to be one of the founders of the Ashcan school of American art. He was also a member of the group known as The Eight. He is best known for his urban genre scenes and ability to capture the essence of neighborhood life in New York City, often observed through his Chelsea studio window. Sloan has been called the premier artist of the Ashcan School, and also a realist painter who embraced the principles of Socialism, though he himself disassociated his art from his politics.

Source

Reviews

[Mike Zickar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book that documents all of the extant correspondence between two of Americans great early 20th Century painters, John Sloan and Robert Henri. The correspondence lasts nearly 30 years from the beginnings of their friendship and careers as painters to Henri's death in the late 1920s.

This compilation is lovingly done with transcriptions of the letters along with reproductions of the sketches that each did for the other to illustrate their letters. In addition, postcards are copied in the text and the book is illustrated with B&W photographs of much of the art that is referenced within individual letters (a very nice touch). Finally, there are footnotes that explain the names and events referenced in the text of letters.

This book probably has a limited audience to fans of the artists or historians who care about American art. For those who fit that mold, this book is a treasure!