Marsden Hartley is one of the most important American painters of the first half of the 20th century. He produced works in a variety of styles, including landscapes, still lifes, and abstract paintings . He is known for his works that depict American landscapes, with their bold compositions and strong colors influenced by German Expressionism .

Marsden Hartley Biography

• Born January 4, 1877 in Lewiston, Maine, USA
• He studied at the Cleveland School of Art and the Chase School of Art in New York in the late 1890s.
• In 1909, he held his first solo exhibition.
• In 1912, he moved to Paris and frequented Gertrude Stein's salon.
• In 1913, he began producing abstract paintings influenced by German Expressionism.
• In 1915 he returned to the United States and began painting landscapes of Maine.
• In the 1930s, he moved to New Mexico and began producing landscape paintings.
• Died September 2, 1943, Ellsworth, Maine (age 66)

Representative works

• Portrait of a German Officer (1914)
• "Maine Landscape" (1930s)
• New Mexico Landscape (1930s)
• "Still Life with Apples" (1912)

Hartley's style and achievements

Hartley's work is characterised by strong colours, bold composition and emotional expression. He was influenced by Impressionism in his early years, but later by German Expressionism and Cubism, and even ventured into abstract painting. His work was constantly evolving and experimenting, pursuing his own unique style.

Hartley is also known as an American landscape painter. He portrayed American nature , such as the rugged coastline of Maine and the vast deserts of New Mexico, with a powerful touch. His landscapes are highly regarded for expressing the American spirit and identity .

Although Hartley did not receive the recognition he deserved during his lifetime, after his death his innovative work was reevaluated and he became recognized as one of the most important painters in the history of American art.