Arthur B. Davies  (1862   -   1928)  Works

Arthur B. Davies (1862 – 1928)

Born in Utica, New York, Arthur Bowen Davies gained a reputation as a member of “The Eight”, a group of painters who became a symbol of revolt in American art, with artworks that expressed lightness and mysticism. Davies was a vocal advocate for modern art in the United States, holding a principal role in the organization of the 1913 Armory Show that transformed American art by introducing modernism to the public.

From 1879 to 1882, Davies studied at the Chicago Academy of Design and briefly attended the Chicago Art Institute, before moving to New York City in 1885 to study at the Art Students League and Gotham Art Students League.

Throughout his career, Davies developed a painting style that synthesized Symbolism with attributes of Tonalism, Art Nouveau, and Cubism. He took regular trips to Europe, where he was greatly influenced by Dutch art, which helped to mature his color sense and brushwork.

Photo Source: Smithsonian American Art Museum