Artwork
Indian Girl in White Blanket
Indian Girl in White Blanket is an oil painting by the Realist artist Robert Henri. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right: ROBERT HENRI
About this work
Technique & Style
Its formal qualities reflect Henri’s expressive brushwork and muted palette within the portrait genre.
Indian Girl in White Blanket is an oil-on-canvas portrait measuring approximately 81.3 cm in height by 66.0 cm in width, executed in 1917 by American painter Robert Henri. The work was painted in oil paint on a canvas support, typical of Henri’s technique, and was originally acquired by the Corcoran Gallery of Art through a 1923 purchase from William MacBeth, later entering the National Gallery of Art’s collection in 2014. Its formal qualities reflect Henri’s expressive brushwork and muted palette within the portrait genre.
History & Provenance
Robert Henri created the oil-on-canvas portrait Indian Girl in White Blanket in 1917. The work first entered the market through William MacBeth, Inc. in New York. In 1923, the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., acquired the painting through a transaction involving both cash and an exchange; the Corcoran deaccessioned and returned to the dealer Henri's earlier painting Willie Gee (accession number 19.35) as partial payment.
The Corcoran retained the work until 2014, when it was acquired by the National Gallery of Art, where it is currently held.
Indian Girl in White Blanket is currently held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The work entered the museum's collection in 2014 after being acquired from the dealer William MacBeth, following a transaction that involved the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s deaccession of another Henri painting, Willie Gee. The painting had previously been owned by the Corcoran Gallery of Art, which purchased it in 1923 from the same dealer.
Overview
Robert Henri's 1917 oil on canvas painting, Indian Girl in White Blanket, presents a focused portrait of a young Native American woman. The artist, a key figure in the Ashcan School, often diverged from his more common urban scenes to capture individuals with an unvarnished realism. This work exemplifies his commitment to depicting people authentically, emphasizing their presence rather than idealizing their form.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features a young woman enveloped in a substantial white blanket, drawn up to form a hood around her head. Her calm, serious expression emerges from the folds, framed by dark hair. This direct and unembellished portrayal aligns with Henri's broader artistic aim to present subjects without romanticization, inviting viewers to engage with the individual's presence rather than a preconceived notion.
Context
Robert Henri was instrumental in the development of the Ashcan School, an American art movement known for its focus on realistic portrayals of everyday life, often set in urban environments. While many of his contemporaries depicted cityscapes and working-class figures, Indian Girl in White Blanket demonstrates his expansive interest in capturing diverse individuals. This portrait extends his commitment to candid representation beyond the urban setting, reflecting a broader humanistic approach.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Henri (; June 24, 1865 – July 12, 1929) was an American painter and teacher.
