Young Buck Of The Tesuque Pueblo 1916

Robert Henri painted this portrait of a 'Young Buck Of The Tesuque Pueblo' with oil on canvas; the date of production is unknown. Henri's brushwork feels so direct and alive; he's building up the image, color by color, touch by touch, and it’s amazing how a few strokes can define a form. You can see him feeling his way through the painting process, pushing and pulling the paint around, trying to capture something essential about his subject. What was it like for him to stand there, brush in hand, trying to understand this young man? The red and green blanket draped over his shoulders has these beautiful, jagged strokes of black. It reminds me of some of my own paintings where I’m trying to balance representation and abstraction, playing with how a gesture can be both a mark and a meaning. Henri’s part of this ongoing conversation that painters have through time. We are all inspired by one another's ways of seeing and feeling.