Glackens, William

William James Glackens (1870-1938) began his career as a newspaper illustrator while still studying at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He had a year's study in Paris in 1895, and shortly after returning to America moved to New York. After a visit to Cuba in 1898 he began to take his subjects from the streets and crowds of city life. A second visit to Paris, and then to Spain, brought him into contact with new art movements, though he returned to New York until 1925 before returning to France where he spent the next seven years; he was particularly influenced by Renoir at this time. Glackens received many awards and prizes, and was elected to the National Academy in 1933.