Arthur Beecher Carles (March 9, 1882 – 1952) was an American Modernist painter.
He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts between 1900 and 1907. In 1907 he traveled to France where he remained until 1910. In France, he greatly admired the works of Cézanne and Matisse, and became close friends with John Marin and Eduard Steichen. He displayed six landscapes in the Salon d'Automne of 1908.
In March 1910 his work was included in the “Younger American Painters” show held at Alfred Stieglitz’s New York City gallery, 291. Stieglitz gave Carles his first one-man show at 291 in January 1912.
He returned to France from June to October 1912 and exhibited at the 1912 Salon d'Automne. After his return to America he exhibited at the Armory Show of 1913. He taught at the Pennsylvania Academy in Philadelphia from 1917 to 1925 and taught privately afterwards. He continued a mentor relationship with many PAFA students through the 1930s, including the artist Norman Carton.
Carles travelled to France for the third time in 1921. Although he lived in Edward Steichen's house in Voulangis, Carles often visited Paris. While on a train ride to the French capital, the artist's first wife, Mercedes de Cordoba, met with a young woman, Angèle, and persuaded her to pose for her husband. The French model rapidly accepted the offer and eventually started an affair with the artist. Angèle had long and thick, dark red hair. She had the kind of pale skin which boosted Carles' interest in color play. He did many paintings of her in 1921-1922.
Here are some of the portraits Carles made of Angèle.
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Angèle in Studio
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| Angèle |
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Portrait of Angèle
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Woman with Red Hair
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