William James Glackens

1870 - 1938 • American • Painter • Impressionist

". . . unique in mind, unique in the appreciation of human character, with an element of humor and an element of criticism, always without fear . ... There is something rare, something new in the thing that he has to say." - Robert Henri, 1910

A Philadelphian, student of ANSHUTZ, and associate of HENRI, Glackens was one of the first newspaper illustrators whom Henri persuaded to become a painter. Several of Glackens's canvases were shown at the important exhibition of The EIGHT held in 1908 and at that of the Independent Artists in 1910 -he was the founding president elected by the SOCIETY OF INDEPENDENT ARTISTS when it was organized in 1917. Henri's comments, quoted above, refer to Glackens's work exhibited in 1910. But Glackens did not follow suit with the ASHCAN members who expressed a Socialist point of view. Rather, Glackens enjoyed living and painting the "good life," as his best-known work, Chez Mouquin ( 1905 ), testifies. Chez Mouquin was a fashionable restaurant where members of The Eight liked to dine, and the picture shows the restaurant's owner seated at a table with an attractive young woman. The scene has the kind of glitter and is a subject such as French IMPRESSIONISTS of the SECOND EMPIRE painted, especially MANET and RENOIR, and in fact Glackens helped his friend BARNES form a notable collection of French Impressionist works.