The artwork titled “Little Indian” is a portrait painted by Robert Henri in 1917. As a representative piece of the American Realism art movement, this work captures the essence of its subject with a focus on real-life imagery and a departure from the idealized or romanticized representations common in previous art periods.
The portrait features a young boy depicted from the waist up, looking directly at the viewer with a calm and introspective gaze. The youth’s face shows subtle variations in skin tones, with warmer hues on his cheeks and nose, adding a touch of vitality to the otherwise thoughtful expression. The artwork’s subject is dressed in a dark blue shirt adorned with buttons that catch the light, suggesting a simplistic yet intensely personal representation of the sitter.
The background consists of solid, loosely painted sections of color, framing the subject with a simplicity that allows the viewer to focus more keenly on the boy’s features and expression. The brushwork in the portrait is confident and vigorous, with visible strokes that add texture and depth, characteristics typical of Henri’s approach to portraiture and reflective of the direct and honest style associated with American Realism. Overall, the artwork conveys a poignant sense of the individuality and dignity of the young boy, inviting contemplation on the subject’s life and story.