On the Hudson River c. 1900

Robert Henri captured this glimpse On the Hudson River. Henri was a leading figure of the Ashcan School, a group of artists who sought to depict everyday life in New York City. His commitment to portraying the unvarnished realities of urban existence reflects a broader turn-of-the-century desire to challenge the status quo. In Henri's work, there is a conscious effort to democratize art by representing subjects from all walks of life. While Henri, as a white male artist, had a certain level of privilege, he actively sought to challenge social hierarchies through his art. His paintings provided an alternative narrative to the idealized and romanticized versions of American life that were prevalent at the time. Henri’s interest in depicting working class people and urban landscapes embodies a desire to create an art that was more inclusive and relevant to a wider audience.