Man with a Monocle

Luks’ created his art in much the same way he lived his life:  his paintings and drawings have a sense of immediacy, executed with vigorous, bold strokes as if the essence of his subject matter would disappear if not gotten down quickly.  Although Luks had a distaste for art education (he studied briefly at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the Kunstacademie in Düsseldorf), he was certainly influenced by the leading figure of The Eight, Robert Henri.  Henri stressed the need for working quickly and finishing a painting in one sitting.  This technique is evident throughout Luks’ oeuvre. 

After leaving the academy at Düsseldorf, Luks traveled to England, Germany and France.  He returned to the United States with a passionate affinity for the works of the Dutch masters, most specifically Franz Hals.  The influence of Hals is quite apparent throughout Luks’ career, most clearly seen in his portraits.