(1865-1929) Leader of the renegade circle of artists known as the Eight and father of the Ashcan School, Robert Henri was one of the most influential figures in American art at the turn of the twentieth century known for his use of lively brushstrokes and simplified forms. Henri rebelled against the accepted subject matter and formal strictures of the conservative art academies of the time, which exerted almost complete control over the prospects of young artists. Henri encouraged his followers to paint everyday urban life in a loose gestural style and dramatic palette inspired by Spanish painting. During his long tenure as a teacher, he nurtured the budding careers of a generation of American artists, including Edward Hopper, George Bellows, and Stuart Davis.