How American Artist Robert Henri Found Himself Again in Ireland

The first time you see the name Robert Henri, it’s natural to pronounce it “ahn-ree.” Although the artist was partly of French descent, he preferred “hen-rye,” perhaps as a nod to his English and Irish roots. In the summer of 1913, after the landmark Armory Show introduced European modernism to America, Henri needed to reassess his life and art. Achill Island in County Mayo, Ireland became Henri’s refuge and the people, especially the children, of the little village of Dooagh became his subjects and salvation. In the exhibition From New York to Corrymore: Robert Henri and Ireland at the Mint Museum of Art, the role of Ireland in Henri’s career is finally examined in depth. Henri’s production proves the power of place and the power of ethnic tradition to inspire artists and confirm their inner visions. Please come over to Picture This at Big Think to read more of "How American Artist Robert Henri Found Himself Again in Ireland."

[Image: Robert Henri. West Coast of Ireland, 1913. Oil on canvas, 26 x 32 inches. Everson Museum of Art; Museum purchase, 58.6.]

[Many thanks to the Mint Museum of Art for providing me with the image above and press materials for the exhibition From New York to Corrymore: Robert Henri and Ireland, which runs through August 7, 2011. Many thanks to the University of Washington Press for providing me with a review copy of From New York to Corrymore: Robert Henri and Ireland by Jonathan Stuhlman and Valerie Ann Leeds. Many thanks to Shirley Road Productions for providing a review copy of Ballycastle.]