Robert Henri

Robert Henri - The Art Spirit

Inspirational Appetizer: Robert Henri

Inspirational Appetizer: Robert Henri - The Art Spirit

A wonderful artist who also was gifted in writing!  Robert Henri wrote a couple of books but my favorite is The Art Spirit.  It was published in 1923.  There is no photo or picture/painting in it but such beautiful writing.  Robert Henri was born in Cincinnati in the early 1880's, attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, travelled to Paris to study, and came back to America to teach at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women.  He further taught at the New York School of art, and NY Students League.  He became an important artist and teacher - taught "heavies" of art as Edward Hopper, Joseph Stella, George Bellows, Stuart Davies.  The Art Spirt contains his ideas of art.

Some lovely extractions from The Art Spirt to share to you - it is truth - and this truth is beautiful like poetry...enjoy!

  

“Art when really understood is the province of every human being.

It is simply a question of doing things, anything, well.  It is not an outside, extra thing.

When the artist is alive in any person, whatever his kind of work may be, he becomes an inventive, searching, daring, self-expressing creature.  He becomes interesting to other people.  He disturbs, upsets, enlightens, and he opens ways for better understanding.  Where those who are not artist are tying to close the book, he opens it, shows there are still more pages possible.

The world would stagnate without him, and the world would be beautiful with him; for he is interesting to himself and he is interesting to others.  He does not have to be a painter or a sculptor to be an artist.  He can work in any medium. He simply has to find the gain in the work itself not outside it.

Museums of art will not make a county an art county.  But where there is the art spirit there will be precious works to fill museums.  Better still, there will be the happiness that is in the making.

The work of the art student is no light matter.  Few have the courage and stamina to see it through.  You have to make up your mind to be alone in many ways.  We like sympathy and we like to be in company.  It is easier then going it alone.  But alone one gets acquainted with himself, grows up and on, not stopping with the crowd.  It costs to do this.  If you succeed somewhat you maybe have to pay for it as well as enjoy it all your life.

Cherish your own emotions and never undervalue them.

We are not here to do what has already been done.

I have little interest in teaching you what I know.  I wish to stimulate you to tell me what you know.  In my office towards you I am simply trying to improve my own environment.

Know what the old masters did.  Know how they composed their pictures, but do not fall into the conventions they established.  These conventions were right for them, and they are wonderful.  They made their language.  You make yours.  They can help you.  All the past can help you.”

“Understand that in no work will you find the final word, nor will you find a receipt that will just fit you. The fun of living is that we have to make ourselves, after all.”

“Many a canvas carries on its face the artist’s thought of the cost of paint. And many a picture has fallen short of its original intention by the obtrusion of this idea.”

“It is harder to see than it is to express. The whole value of art rests in the artist’s ability to see well into what is before him.”

“The pictures which do not represent an intense interest cannot expect to create an intense interest.”

“A public which likes to hear something worth while when you talk would like to understand something worth while when it sees pictures.”

“You can learn more from yourself than you can from anyone else.”

“The greatness of art depends absolutely on the greatness of the artist’s individuality and on the same source depends the power to acquire a technique sufficient for expression.”

“There is nothing more entertaining than to have a frank talk with yourself. Few do it-frankly. Educating yourself is getting acquainted with yourself.”

“It is easier, I think, to paint a good picture than it is to paint a bad one. The difficulty is to have the will for it. A good picture is a fruit of all your great living.”

“Don’t take me an authority. I am simply expressing a very personal point of view. Nothing final about it. You have to settle all these matters for yourself.’

“The eye should not be led where there is nothing to see.”

“Out of it all, what is good will survive and will be known later; what is bad or negligible will pass and we shall have lived.”

“The pursuit of happiness is a great activity. One must be open and alive. It is the greatest feat man has to accomplish, and spirits must flow. There must be courage. There are no easy ruts to get into which lead to happiness. A man must become interesting to himself and must become actually expressive before he can be happy.”