Luks, George

Luks, George (1867–1933). American painter and graphic artist. He was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and began his studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, in 1884. Over the next decade he travelled in Europe, studying at various academies en route. In 1894 he became an illustrator on the Philadelphia Press and became friendly with other newspaper artists—Glackens, Shinn, and Sloan—who introduced him to Robert Henri. In 1896 Luks moved to New York, where he turned more to painting and became a member of The Eight and the Ashcan School. A flamboyant character who identified himself with the poorer classes and made a pose of bohemianism, he was much given to tall tales and sometimes posed as ‘ Lusty Luks', an ex-boxer. His work was uneven and unpredictable. It had vigour and spontaneity but often lapsed into superficial vitality. One of his best-known works is The Wrestlers (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1905), which shows his preference for earthy themes and admiration for the bravura painterly technique of artists such as Manet. Luks taught for several years at the Art Students League and also ran his own school. His death was slightly mysterious, his body being found in a doorway; newspapers reported that he had died sketching in the street, but some of his friends assumed he had picked one fight too many.