German-American artist Henry Jerome Schile was born in Oberharmersbach, Baden-Württemberg, in 1829 before eventually making his way to the United States in 1851. His journey to the US marked the beginning of a prolific artistic career that would leave a lasting impact on the American art scene. Settling in New York in the middle of the 19th century, Schile quickly established himself as a prominent figure in the art world with his unique style and approach to lithography.
h/t: vintag.es
Henry Schile’s work has been described by art critic Harry T. Peters as a reflection of the diverse cultural landscape of America at the time. While Schile’s prints often drew inspiration from his German roots and featured titles in foreign languages to cater to the immigrant population, they were undeniably American in spirit. Despite criticisms of his work being crude in conception, composition, drawing, and lithography, Schile’s prints captured the essence of the ‘melting pot’ from which they emerged.
One of the distinctive features of Schile’s prints is their larger size, with most of his works being in folio format. Unlike many other artists of his time, Schile rarely produced small prints, opting instead for bold and impactful pieces that demanded attention. His choice of heavy black paper as a canvas for his prints further added to the unique aesthetic of his work. Additionally, Schile experimented with various types of paper, ranging from the thinnest to the thickest, showcasing his versatility as an artist.
The coloring in Schile’s prints was often described as crude, with a rawness that defied traditional artistic norms. Despite criticisms of his technique, Schile’s prints exuded a true spirit of lithography that set them apart from his contemporaries. When asked about the quality of Schile’s work, Peters famously remarked that while Schile may have made some of the worst prints, they were imbued with a real sense of lithographic spirit that was undeniable.
Henry Jerome Schile continued to create art until his passing in 1901 at the age of 72 in New York. His legacy as a German-American artist who bridged cultural boundaries through his bold and unconventional prints remains an important chapter in the history of American art. Henry Schile’s contributions to the art world serve as a testament to the power of artistic expression in capturing the essence of a nation in transition.