Henri, << HEHN ry or HEHN ree, >> Robert (1865-1929), was an American painter and art teacher. He taught his students to record life directly and spontaneously, an approach that clashed with the “art for art’s sake” doctrine popular around 1900.
Henri became the guiding spirit of The Eight, an informal association of painters formed in 1907. The painters specialized in realistic scenes from everyday life, but differed considerably in style and often in subject matter. Henri’s own work moved from a bright Impressionism style in the 1890’s to darker tones and gritty urban subjects in the early 1900’s. The group was scorned as the Revolutionary Black Gang, the Apostles of Ugliness, and finally the Ashcan School. See Ashcan School .
Henri was born Robert Henry Cozad on June 25, 1865, in Cincinnati. He taught in New York City from 1903 to his death on July 12, 1929. His book The Art Spirit (1923) is a valuable guide to his thoughts on art.
