James Henry Daugherty (1889 – 1974): A Pioneer of American Modernism James Henry Daugherty (June 1, 1889 – February 21, 1974) was an American modernist painter, muralist, children’s book author and illustrator who profoundly impacted the visual arts landscape of his era. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, he cultivated a rich intellectual environment shaped by his parents' dedication to literature and science—a foundation that would inform his lifelong artistic pursuits. His formative years were spent in Indiana and Ohio, where he absorbed influences from rural life and folklore, elements wh…