Henry Hayden (1883-1970), Port of Normandy - Omonville-la-Rogue; 1948

Color lithograph on paper; 52 x 63 framed; in st p-p 28 x 39 cm
edition number l. d.: 27/100
Signed, dated, p.d.: Hayden 1948
Provenance: private collection Cracow

His painting is part of the Expressionist and Cubist trend. Initially, as a result of pressure from his parents, he began studying engineering at the Warsaw Polytechnic, but after three years he transferred to the School of Fine Arts. In 1907, he left for Paris. He supplemented his education there at the Académie "La Palette" under Charles Guérin and Georges Desvalliéres. Just four years after arriving in France, Hayden's first solo exhibition was held at the Galerie Druet, and it largely marked the beginning of his artistic career.
The artist was associated with the environment of the Ecole de Paris. While in France, he met the representatives of Cubism: Juan Gris, Pablo Picasso, Jean Jacques Lipchitz and Metzinger. During the Nazi occupation, he stayed in France, where he met Robert Delaunay and Samuel Beckett. During World War II, Hayden's studio was looted by the Germans, hence many of the painter's works were lost.
The artist spent many times in Brittany (e.g., Le Pouldu and Pont-Aven), where his paintings were also created.
In the first stage of his work one can find elements of cubist avant-garde (1916-1921), later realism. Hayden's painting was also influenced by the work of Wladyslaw Slewinski and the syntheticism of the Pont-Aven school. In the applied geometrization of forms, synthesis of shapes or use of greens and browns (especially in the years 1912-1914), references to the work of Cézanne are evident.
The artist created landscapes, still lifes, portraits, as well as compositions with figures of actors and musicians (they were inspired by his contacts with the avant-garde music group "les Six" and composer Erik Satie). In the period between 1922 and 1953, Hayden leaned more clearly towards observation of nature and color sensitivity (at that time he painted nudes inspired by the late work of Renoir). The last twenty years of the artist's life is a painting characterized by greater simplicity and decisiveness.The artist's compositions are characterized by bright, vivid colors and subtle moderation. The painter also created color lithographs, in which he used simplified compositions and rhythmic forms.
Hayden was associated with the Paris avant-garde and such painters as P.Picasso, J.Gris, G.Severin and H.Matisse. Ties of friendship also connected him with Beckett.