Collection: Marsden Hartley

Marsden Hartley (1877–1943) was an American painter, poet, and essayist born in Lewiston, Maine. He pursued his artistic education at the Cleveland School of Art, followed by studies at the Chase School and the National School of Design in New York City. Hartley developed his painting abilities by observing Cubist artists in Paris and Berlin, and his early career included a one-man exhibition at Alfred Stieglitz's 291 Gallery in 1909.

Hartley arrived at a distinctive, personal type of Expressionism, particularly evident in his bold paintings of the harsh Maine landscape. His work often explored landscapes and still lifes, representing an early response to European modernist trends. He frequently changed his artistic approach and style, undertaking extensive travels in search of a unique expression.

After extensive travels, Hartley returned to his native Maine in the 1930s, focusing on depicting local life. He was a significant figure among early 20th-century American artists advocating for modernism and was a member of Alfred Stieglitz's Gallery 291.