Marin, John

Marin, John (1870–1953). American painter and printmaker, born in Rutherford, New Jersey. He began painting when he was 18, but worked for several years as an architectural draughtsman before he took up art seriously. From 1899 to 1901 he studied in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (where Anshutz was one of his teachers), then from 1901 to 1903 in New York at the Art Students League. In 1905 he went to Europe and remained there (apart from a brief return visit in 1909) until 1910, living mainly in Paris. He was influenced by Whistler's water-colours and etchings, but he did not come into contact with avant-garde movements until after his return to America, when he became a member of Stieglitz's circle in New York. The Armory Show in 1913 also made an impact on him. Responding especially to German Expressionism and the planimetric structure of the late work of Cézanne, he developed a distinctive semi-abstract style that he used most characteristically in powerful watercolours of city life and the Maine coast (where he often painted in the summer). His oil paintings (which became more important in his work from the 1930s) are often similar in effect to watercolours, leaving part of the canvas bare. Marin also made etchings, mainly early in his career. From the 1920s he enjoyed a high reputation. He was an individualist, belonging to no school, and he is considered one of the outstanding water-colourists of his time. See also DEMUTH.