William Glackens

William Glackens was known for his depictions of American urban life during the early twentieth century. Having initially trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of Art, he took up work as an illustrator for the Philadelphia and New York press. However, he took to oil painting during the 1890s under the influence of Robert Henri, becoming a member of both The Eight and the Ashcan School. While these movements generally focused on a grittier Social Realism, Glackens’ interest lay in a more Impressionistic and light-hearted rendering of city life. His bright and airy brushwork drew much from Renoir, while his years as an illustrator allowed him to capture the frenetic energy of urban living. His travels to Europe in 1895-6 and 1906 had left him highly knowledgeable about modern French painting – an expertise that Dr Albert C. Barnes recognised in 1912 when he hired Glackens to purchase Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings for his collection.