John French Sloan
John French Sloan
Full Name and Common Aliases
John French Sloan was an American artist and member of the Ashcan School movement, known for his dynamic and expressive paintings of urban life.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on August 2, 1871, in New York City, USA
Died on September 7, 1951, in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
Nationality and Profession(s)
American
Painter, Printmaker
Early Life and Background
John French Sloan was born into a family of modest means. His father, Joseph Weldon Sloane, was a lawyer, and his mother, Elizabeth Milbank Sloane, came from a wealthy banking family. Growing up in New York City's Greenwich Village, Sloan developed an interest in art at an early age. He studied at the Art Students League of New York, where he was influenced by the works of Thomas Eakins.
Major Accomplishments
Sloan's artistic style was shaped by his experiences as a newspaper illustrator and a painter of urban landscapes. He co-founded the short-lived but influential artists' group, The Eight, also known as The Ashcan School. This group sought to bring attention to the everyday lives of working-class people through their art.
Notable Works or Actions
Some notable works by Sloan include:
"McSorley's Bar" (1912): A painting of a New York City tavern that showcases Sloan's ability to capture the spirit of urban life.
"Gossip" (1928): A print that exemplifies Sloan's skill in conveying the drama and tension of everyday scenes.
Impact and Legacy
John French Sloan's contributions to American art are multifaceted. He played a key role in shaping the Ashcan School movement, which sought to break away from traditional approaches to art. Through his paintings and prints, he brought attention to the lives of working-class people, providing a unique perspective on urban life during the early 20th century.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Sloan's legacy extends beyond his artwork. His commitment to social justice and his role as an advocate for artists' rights have made him a respected figure in the art world. As a pioneer of American modernism, he paved the way for future generations of artists.
"The artist must be a visionary."
— John French Sloan
This quote reflects Sloan's dedication to using his art as a means of social commentary and critique. His vision for a more inclusive and expressive art form continues to inspire artists today.
Quotes by John French Sloan
John French Sloan's insights on:
Draw with the brush. Carve the form. Don’t be carried away by subtleties of modeling and nice pigmentation at the expense of losing the form.
Every good picture leaves the painter eager to start again, unsatisfied, inspired by the rich mine in which he is working, hoping for more energy, more vitality, more time – condemned to painting for life.
You can be a giant among artists without ever attaining any great skill. Facility is a dangerous thing. When there is too much technical ease the brain stops criticizing. Don’t let the hand fall into a smart way of putting the mind to sleep.
Don’t be afraid to borrow. The great men, the most original, borrowed from everybody.
Drawing is the cornerstone of the graphic, plastic arts. Drawing is the coordination of line, tone, and color symbols into formations that express the artist’s thought.
Painting is drawing, with the additional means of color. Painting without drawing is just ‘coloriness,’ color excitement. To think of color for color’s sake is like thinking of sound for sound’s sake. Color is like music. The palette is an instrument that can be orchestrated to build form.
The emphasis on original, individual work in the past years has done a great deal to produce a crop of eccentric fakes and has carried art away from the stream of tradition. Tradition is our heritage of knowledge and experience. We can’t get along without it.
A piece of drapery is like a necktie, hot stuff to paint, and one of the easiest things for a painter to kid himself into thinking he can do. Don’t be fooled by the color. Go after the shape and character. Hew the forms together with colored tones.
Don’t think of sea as color. Make it a solid that can support a boat. Think of ‘wetness’ as color-texture.