Charles Webster Hawthorne

Charles Webster Hawthorne was an influential American painter and art teacher born in 1872. He is best known for his vibrant portraiture and figure painting, often capturing everyday people with lively, realistic detail. As a dedicated educator, Hawthorne founded the Cape Cod School of Art in 1899, the first outdoor painting school in the U.S., promoting plein air (outdoor) painting. His approach emphasized capturing personality and mood through color and light. Hawthorne's work and teaching greatly impacted American art, inspiring generations of artists to observe and depict the human experience with honesty and vigor.