Theresa Bernstein was deeply influenced by Modernism, and although she was never a student of Robert Henri, she embraced his call to capture modern life as seen in her surroundings. She painted her observations expressively and did not concern herself greatly with academic precision or stylistic refinement. Indeed, her rich brushwork demonstrates a bold handling of paint and gives her paintings great surface dimension. She does not get lost in the details of her composition, but rather captures the essence of a scene and the action that takes place within it. Bernstein defined art as a natural expression and understood that the vibrancy and strength of her work came from within. This self-consciousness and the spark of originality that marked her best paintings defined Bernstein's artistic philosophy. Although this philosophy was quite modern, she avoided complete abstraction and painted the rosier aspects of American life throughout her career.