Artwork
A North River Recreation Pier
A North River Recreation Pier is an oil painting by the Ashcan School artist Jerome Myers. It dates from 1905 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The depiction emphasizes both the physical environment of the pier and the social interactions that defined its function as a recreational hub.
The work titled A North River Recreation Pier, painted by Jerome Myers in 1905, portrays a riverside leisure setting that includes a boat, a child, a man, and a woman. These figures suggest everyday recreational activity along the North River, reflecting the urban waterfront's role as a public space for leisure and community life in early twentieth-century New York. Rendered in oil on canvas, the composition captures the informal, democratic atmosphere of the pier, where diverse participants engage in simple, collective pastimes.
The depiction emphasizes both the physical environment of the pier and the social interactions that defined its function as a recreational hub.
Technique & Style
Created in 1905, A North River Recreation Pier is an oil painting on canvas measuring 64 centimeters in height and 76.4 centimeters in width. The medium allows for the detailed rendering of the depicted scene, which includes a man, a woman, and a child alongside a boat. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is characteristic of Jerome Myers's depictions of working-class urban leisure during this period.
History & Provenance
Jerome Myers painted A North River Recreation Pier in 1905 in oil on canvas. The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it remains. Its dimensions of 64 by 76.4 centimeters and its depiction of a boat with a child, man, and woman are recorded in the museum's catalogue.
No record of a specific commission, sale transaction, accession number, or exhibition history is provided in the available sources.
Overview
Jerome Myers completed A North River Recreation Pier in 1905, using oil paint to capture a nocturnal urban scene. This painting exemplifies his characteristic focus as an artist associated with the Ashcan School, which often depicted the daily lives of city residents. The work presents a waterfront gathering, illuminated by artificial light, reflecting the artist's interest in the human element within bustling metropolitan environments.
Context
Jerome Myers, a figure aligned with the Ashcan School, dedicated his career to documenting the lives of New York City's working-class inhabitants. Though born in Virginia and raised across various East Coast cities, his artistic identity was forged in the metropolis. A North River Recreation Pier aligns with his broader output, offering a direct and empathetic portrayal of urban recreation and social interaction, free from idealization.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jerome Myers (March 20, 1867 – June 19, 1940) was an American artist and writer associated with the Ashcan School, particularly known for his sympathetic depictions of the urban landscape and its people.
