Artwork
Paris Night
Paris Night is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Robert Henri. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work's iconography centers on the atmosphere and activity of the modern city after dark.
Robert Henri's Paris Night (1900) captures a nocturnal urban scene, specifically depicting a carriage and a human figure set against the backdrop of a night in Paris. The work's iconography centers on the atmosphere and activity of the modern city after dark. By focusing on a solitary carriage and figure within the darkness, the painting represents the dynamism and mood of contemporary metropolitan life, emphasizing the fleeting, shadowy moments of the urban landscape rather than grand historical or mythological narratives.
Technique & Style
Paris Night is an oil painting executed on canvas in 1900 by Robert Henri. The work measures 65.4 cm in height by 81.3 cm in width, as recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's cataloging data. Henri employed conventional oil paint applied to a stretched canvas support, a medium he favored for its capacity to render atmospheric effects.
The composition depicts a nocturnal urban scene featuring a carriage and a human figure. The painting's formal qualities include a muted nocturnal palette, pronounced chiaroscuro, and a focus on everyday street activity, reflecting Henri's interest in contemporary city life.
History & Provenance
Robert Henri created Paris Night in 1900. The artwork is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 65.4 cm in height and 81.3 cm in width. Currently, the painting resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The sources confirm the date of inception and present ownership but do not provide details regarding the original commission or the specific chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Overview
Robert Henri, an American painter and educator, completed Paris Night in 1900 using oil paint. This painting captures a nocturnal street scene, characteristic of American Impressionism, showing a busy urban environment with figures and a carriage. It is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a moment in early 20th-century American art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Henri (; June 24, 1865 – July 12, 1929) was an American painter and teacher.
