Harvey Emrich was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. Little is known about his early training. He may have attended classes at John Heron Art Institute in that city.
His major art influences occurred when in France. Emrich served in the American Expeditionary Force in World War I. Near the close of the war John Erskine and the YMCA proposed an art program for American soldiers. Emrich applied and was accepted. Classes were held at the Hotel Palace in Paris where Isadora Duncan formerly taught dance classes. It was now being used as a military hospital
The GI’s were being prepared to document the human condition caused by the war’s devastation. Classes were taught in many disciplines, including painting and sculpture. Very importantly, the students were taken to Parisian artists’ ateliers, museums and country chateaus. During this period Emrich greatly enhanced his painting skills and his work thereafter reflected the strong influence of France.
It is not known exactly when Ruth and Harvey Emrich moved to Woodstock. They built a home and studio on Bellows Lane, the now famous compound that included homes of artists George Bellows, Charles Rosen and Eugene Speicher. From his studio he sent paintings to exhibits at the Chicago Art Institute and the Corcoran Gallery, Washington DC. He was also a frequent exhibitor at the Woodstock Artists Association.
Following the death of Ruth Emrich in 1991 the James Cox Gallery was selected to disperse the estate. A successful auction was held and nearly two hundred works of art were sold. This beautiful interior was in that sale and has returned to our gallery for resale. The unusual (for an interior) plein aire quality is self evident.
The high key impressionistic colors harken back to the artist’s experience in France, while Overlook Mountain is visible through the window. This view would be impossible today because of the dense foliage that now blocks most sight lines from the village. -JC