George B. Luks (1867-1933),
Portrait of a Woman, c.1900, oil on canvas, 38 7/16 x 21 1/8 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art,
gift
of Gerald and Mary Lou M. Jones, 1987.
American artist George Luks was born on this day in 1867. Luks studied art in Europe for several years, becoming acquainted with many styles of painting before returning to the United States and working as an artist and teacher. He was a member of the Ashcan School, an art movement in the early 1900s. He was also a member of the break-off group of eight artists, simply called 'The Eight,' which exhibited in 1908. A wild character who was regularly involved in bar fights, Luks preferred depictions of reality and the grittiness of everyday life in New York City cities. However, later in his career, he often painted portraits, including today's piece,
Portrait of a Woman.