The Ashcan School | Articles on Contemporary Art Movements

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The Ashcan (or Ash Can) School is a term thought to have been invented by writer Art Young in 1916, referring to a group of American urban realist painters active in New York between 1908-18. It was during this period that Futurism and Vorticism emerged in Europe. Robert Henri began forming what would become The Ashcan School, in Philadelphia in 1891, believing in 'art for lifes sake', which was to become the groups motto, and is in reference to the term 'art for arts sake'. Unlike Futurism and Vorticism The Ashcan School were not an organised group.
New York's expansion and commercial success around the turn of the twentieth century created opportunity and wealth for workers in all industries. Amongst those were a group of eight artists attracted to the city that was fast doubling in population, and tripling in size. Arthur Davies, Robert Henri, William Glackens, Ernest Lawson, George Luks, Maurice Prendergast, John Sloan and Everett Shinn, known as 'The Eight' (a name given to them by a New York journalist), were on the road to revolutionising American Art with rough and honest paintings of urban life, characterised by the work of five of the artists, all of which had their roots in Philadelphia. Later members were to come from Henri's New York students, most notably George Bellows. It would have been in-keeping to some extent with half the groups previous training and experience in newspaper illustration. In fact, Henri who had taught four of the eight, encouraged them to consider art as journalism, and pursue painting that interested them, before considering what they felt they were supposed to, or expected to paint.
Glackens, Henri, Luks, Shinn and Sloan had met during their studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and painted their surroundings as they saw them. Everyday people and scenes, the action of the city streets. They painted what they saw, as it appeared. It is the subject matter that primarily defines The Ashcan School, although there is also a loose, fast, rough style and tendency towards dark colours that all suggest the environment they were painting. They also produced etchings and lithographs. During boom time America and prosperity for many, these artists were often recording the poorer and not so picturesque streets. The side of city life that they were rich enough to avoid themselves, but saw both beauty in, and a need to document in their art. Their work contrasts popular American Impressionism of the time. Their dark palette is thought to have been influenced by a trip Henri made to Europe, where he saw works by artists such as Velasquez and Goya.
Edward Hopper studied under Robert Henri for five years, and is considered by some to be part of the Ashcan School. However the mood and subject matter of Hopper's urban life paintings differ from what many consider Ashcan School painting. Hoppers being more urban calm and isolation.
Ashcan School works were exhibited in the following prestigious New York exhibitions: A 1904 National Arts Club exhibition, a 1908 exhibition of 'The Eight' at Macbeth Galleries, the 1910 Exhibition of Independent Artists, and the 1913 Armory Show.

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