Paul Henry

by S. B. Kennedy

Published May 1991
Paul Henry (1876-1958) is Ireland's greatest twentieth-century landscape painter. Trained in fin de siecle Paris under Whistler, he also absorbed the influences of Post-Impressionism, which linger throughout his work. In his depictions of the landscapes and of the way of life in the west of Ireland in his time, Henry provides the quintessential view of the Irish scene, now as universally familiar as Cezanne's view of Provence or Constable's representations of Suffolk. In his own words, he wanted to capture in his work "the very soul of Ireland." A detailed biography of the artist precedes an illustrated catalogue of his oeuvre in this comprehensive book. While many of Henry's paintings are well known, his drawings and early illustrations are less so, and they provide an intriguing insight not only into the artist's way of working but to his lifestyle and personal circumstances.