Artwork
Afternoon at Coney Island
Afternoon at Coney Island is an unspecified painting by the American Impressionist artist William James Glackens. It dates from 1907 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The painting depicts a bustling seaside scene with loose brushwork and bright color application characteristic of early twentieth-century American realism.
The painting depicts a bustling seaside scene with loose brushwork and bright color application characteristic of early twentieth-century American realism. Glackens rendered figures on the beach using layered oil pigments on canvas, creating textured surfaces that capture sunlight and movement. The composition emphasizes diagonal pathways and fragmented spatial depth, while the handling of paint remains fluid yet controlled, preserving a sense of immediacy.
These stylistic choices reflect the artist's interest in everyday leisure activities and urban modernity. The work is executed in oil on canvas and measures 36.8 cm by 47.3 cm.
History & Provenance
Afternoon at Coney Island is a 1907 painting by William James Glackens, depicting a seaside scene. The work measures 36.8 cm in height and 47.3 cm in width. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it has remained since its acquisition.
Overview
Created in 1907 by American painter William James Glackens, this oil work captures a bustling seaside setting at Coney Island. The composition centers on a group of beachgoers, some seated, others standing, against a backdrop that includes a prominent building bearing the sign “OTTO HOFF.” A cloud‑filled sky hovers above, lending a relaxed yet animated atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The scene portrays ordinary leisure activity, emphasizing the social nature of early‑20th‑century recreation. By focusing on everyday figures rather than heroic or mythic subjects, Glackens highlights the communal experience of a popular urban amusement destination.
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Artist & collection
Artist
William James Glackens was an American realist painter and one of the founders of the Ashcan School, which rejected the formal boundaries of artistic beauty laid down by the conservative National Academy of Design.
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