Thomas Hart Benton (painter)

Thomas Hart Benton Tom Benton ( born April 15, 1889 in Neosho, Missouri, † January 19, 1975 in Kansas City, Missouri) was an American painter. He is regarded as a representative of the American regionalism and Muralism. His cartoon -like paintings show scenes of everyday life from the Midwest, especially rural images of the pre-industrial agrarian life.

He was a teacher in New York at the Art Students League, one of his students was Jackson Pollock.

Early years

Thomas Hart Benton was born as the grandson of the same former U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton. His father worked as a lawyer and congressman. He spent his childhood both in Missouri and in Washington, DC He leaned against his parents wishes to enter into a political career, and was interested more in art. As a teenager, he drew cartoons for the local newspaper from Joplin (Missouri ), the American Joplin.

Training

In 1907 to Benton at the Art Institute of Chicago to enroll, but in 1909 he moved to Paris, where he continued his education at the Académie Julian. In Paris, Benton met other North American artists such as Diego Rivera and Stanton Macdonald- Wright, a representative of the Synchromismus. Wright's influence gave Benton plant strong synchromistische trains.

Teaching

Benton taught at the Art Students League in New York. Jackson Pollock was one of his students ( 1929-1931 ).