Prints
Election Night Bonfire
Coleman studied art with Robert Henri, who encouraged students to experience life and depict the reality they observed. Henri advised, "It takes more than love of art to see character and meaning and even beauty in a crowd of east side children tagging after a street piano or hanging over garbage cans. There must be a knowledge of human nature, human motives, and, above all, sympathy."
Coleman depicted the tradition of building bonfires on the night of an election. While the scene suggests boisterous, even dangerous, activity, it seems calm and orderly compared to Sloan's version of a bonfire (on view to the right). Here the boys' feet are planted on the ground, there is a circle organized around the fire, and adults condone the behavior by blowing horns and standing nearby.
Coleman depicted the tradition of building bonfires on the night of an election. While the scene suggests boisterous, even dangerous, activity, it seems calm and orderly compared to Sloan's version of a bonfire (on view to the right). Here the boys' feet are planted on the ground, there is a circle organized around the fire, and adults condone the behavior by blowing horns and standing nearby.
