Original artwork description:

‘There is nothing in all the world more beautiful or significant of the laws of the universe than the nude human body.‘

Robert Henri

Robert Henri ( June 24, 1865 – July 12, 1929) was a tremendously well respected American artist and art teacher who influenced a whole generation of artists, both in America and abroad.

Amongst other things, he fervently held that being true to your beliefs and principles allowed an individual to succeed at any calling in life, not only art. His book, ‘The Art Spirit’, is one of the bibles of the studio.

Controversial and revolutionary, he espoused the Impressionist’s notion that rather than glorifying the well-to-do, art should be more concerned with the common man and woman by dignifying their everyday activities

“He gave his students, not a style (though some imitated him), but an attitude, an approach, [to art]. ” Anon

‘Apres la Douche’, (After the shower) is certainly an everyday activity, and one that has been approached by innumerable artists over the centuries. In this one, I have used soft pastels and concentrated on the effect of the lights and darks, and cool against warm colours, rather then the form of the figure itself.

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