Angol
In the first decades of the 20th century, painters of the Ashcan School, a loosely connected group of gritty, urban realists, created images of New York City from street level. Following older artist Robert Henri's insistence that artists should make 'pictures from life', the Ashcanners renounced the polished academic style taught in art schools of the time. Instead they practised a more urgent manner, seeking to catch the ebb and flow of life in urban America. Some of them also produced vivid landscapes with a highly saturated colour palette and portraits. This book introduces the painters of the Ashcan School and the key characteristics and themes of their work. Detailed commentaries are provided for twelve significant paintings by George Bellows, William Glackens, Robert Henri, George Luks, and John Sloan. In their visual contemplation of early-20th-century New York, these artists offer deep insights into the nature of urban life not only in their time but also in our own.
