A Man of the Hills 1913

Paul Henry made this painting of "A Man of the Hills" with what looks like oils, capturing a person seemingly shaped by the landscape itself. The palette is earthy – browns and greens, a very muted range. The paint is applied so directly, you can almost feel the brushstrokes. Look at the way Henry renders the hat – bold, confident strokes that define the form, yet leave so much to our imagination. Then notice the face, or what we can see of it. It's a study in light and shadow, obscuring as much as it reveals. There's a rawness here, an honesty that reminds me of some of Guston’s later works. The way it balances representation and abstraction. Henry’s painting isn’t just a portrait; it's a meditation on how we see, how we feel, and how art invites us into a dialogue without ever dictating a single, fixed meaning.