William James Glackens

William James Glackens (1870-1938), American painter, born in Philadelphia, and educated at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Starting his career as a newspaper and magazine illustrator, Glackens became a realistic painter of the group called The Eight. His dark-hued works marked a turning away from lofty academic subjects to scenes of everyday life. Later, as a result of his travels in France, Glackens's works became lighter, influenced by the impressionists, especially the French painter and sculptor Pierre Auguste Renoir. Glackens's works include Luxembourg Gardens (1904, Corcoran Gallery, Washington, D.C.), Washington Square (1914, Museum of Modern Art, New York City), and Promenade (1926, Detroit Institute of Arts).