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William James Glackens: Visual Arts\Artist\Painter
William James Glackens: Visual Arts\Artist\Illustrator
William James Glackens: Journalism and Media\Journalist\Reporter\Magazine
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Ira Glackens
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
NPG.72.3
Exhibition Label
Born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
William J. Glackens was an American illustrator and painter who documented the War of 1898 (Spanish-American War), reporting on U.S. troops in Cuba for McClure’s Magazine. Glackens attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1891, making a living as an artist-reporter for daily newspapers like the Philadelphia Record and the Philadelphia Press. In 1895, he studied in Paris, sharing a studio space with the realist painter Robert Henri. Afterward, Glackens worked in New York City as an artist-reporter for McClure’s Magazine. In June and July 1898, he followed U.S. troops from Tampa to Santiago, Cuba, making sketches and reporting back. A bout of malaria prevented him from finishing and publishing most of his sketches.
In 1908, Glackens established his reputation as a contemporary painter with a New York City group called “The Eight,” led by Henri. In this self-portrait, Glackens holds his palette, emphasizing his later painting career.
Nacido en Filadelfia, Pensilvania
El ilustrador y pintor estadounidense William J. Glackens documentó la Guerra de 1898 (Guerra Hispano-Estadounidense), cubriendo a las tropas de EE.UU. en Cuba para McClure’s Magazine. Glackens asistió a la Academia de Bellas Artes de Pensilvania en 1891 mientras se ganaba la vida como artistareportero para periódicos como Philadelphia Record y Philadelphia Press. En 1895 estudió en París, donde compartió un estudio con el pintor realista Robert Henri. Luego trabajó en Nueva York como artistareportero para McClure’s Magazine. Durante junio y julio de 1898, siguió a las tropas estadounidenses desde Tampa hasta Santiago de Cuba para hacer dibujos y reportajes. Un episodio de malaria le impidió terminar y publicar la mayoría de sus dibujos.
En 1908, Glackens se estableció como pintor contemporáneo con un grupo de Nueva York llamado “Los Ocho” y liderado por Henri. En este autorretrato sostiene su paleta, destacando esa carrera posterior de pintor.
Provenance
Ira Glackens, the artist’s son, Washington, D.C.; gift 1972 to NPG.
