Robert Henri (born Robert Henry Cozad), Snow in New York, 1902, oil on canvas

The Ashcan School was a group of American artists who focused on urban subjects. They were interested in reflecting the gritty realities of city life, often focusing their attention on the plight of poor immigrants. Robert Henri, who led this movement, was included in the Armory Show in 1913 (in New York), an exhibition that brought many of the innovative young talents of art in Europe together with American artists for the first time.