Two Experts, Tattoo

Reginald MarshWW-1944-067794

1944·Brush and black and gray wash, with watercolor, over black crayon and graphite on off-white wove paper·57.8 × 78.7 cm (22 13/16 × 31 in.)

<p>New York City provided Reginald Marsh with ready subjects for his work as an artist and freelance illustrator. A draftsman at heart, he first used watercolor in the 1920s and returned to it in 1939, stating that “watercolors give clarity and allow for better drawing.” In this example, he drew with black crayon and graphite, and then applied the watercolor with thin, transparent washes of black and gray, carefully allowing them to pool and dry in untidy clouds that emphasize the dirty, grimy realism of his landscape.</p>

Catalogue

Year: 1944
Medium: Brush and black and gray wash, with watercolor, over black crayon and graphite on off-white wove paper
Dimensions: 57.8 × 78.7 cm (22 13/16 × 31 in.)
Collection: Art Institute of Chicago
Artist: Reginald Marsh

Artist

Reginald Marsh

Photography

American artist Reginald Marsh was best known for his depictions of marginalized groups and the seedy underbelly of New York City in the first half of the 20th century. His chosen subjects were the homeless living in downtown Manhattan, burlesque shows, gritty scenes on Coney Island and the sea ports and the hustle of everyday life, which he treated with nuanced psychological consideration and a sense of vibrant urgency in his brushstrokes. His style has been analyzed in the context of Social Realism, as he rejected the Modernist tradition but felt a kinship with the masters of the Italian Baroque.

New York, NY, USA

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