Artwork
Cross Streets of New York
Cross Streets of New York is a gouache drawing by the Impressionist artist Everett Shinn. It dates from 1899 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Cross Streets of New York, created by Everett Shinn in 1899, is a mixed-media drawing on paperboard, combining pastel, watercolor, charcoal, and gouache to depict a nocturnal New York street scene.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a rain-soaked urban moment at night, with a horse-drawn carriage and a solitary figure under an umbrella navigating the illuminated, reflective streets. This unromanticized portrayal of city life aligns with the Ashcan School's emphasis on everyday, unidealized urban themes.
Technique & Style
Shinn's use of soft pastels effectively conveys the glow of streetlights on wet pavement, while the integration of watercolor, charcoal, and gouache adds depth and texture to the scene, characteristic of his dynamic and animated style.
History & Provenance
As a member of both the Ashcan School and The Eight, Shinn's work reflects the groups' shared interest in depicting raw, everyday life. Originally a newspaper illustrator in Philadelphia, Shinn's style evolved as photography's influence grew, though his nocturnal cityscapes remained a consistent theme.
Context
Part of a broader movement led by Robert Henri, Shinn's Cross Streets of New York contributes to the early 20th-century shift towards capturing the unvarnished aspects of urban existence, contrasting with more sanitized depictions of city life prevalent at the time.
Legacy
This piece, along with Shinn's other New York night scenes, contributes to his legacy as a chronicler of the city's nocturnal energy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, influencing subsequent generations of artists interested in urban realism.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Everett Shinn (November 6, 1876 – May 1, 1953) was an American painter and member of the urban realist Ashcan School.
