Oil Paint
Oil paint is a slow-drying art medium made with pigment and a drying-oil binder that allows extended working time, smooth blending, and layered application.
Painter
George Luks
George Luks was an American Ashcan School painter known for forceful portraits, New York street life, and lively watercolor landscapes.
George Luks quick facts
Luks painted New York's working people with energetic brushwork and made an extensive body of watercolors alongside his portraits.
| Born | 1866 · Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States |
|---|---|
| Died | 1933 · New York City, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Movements | Ashcan School; American Realism |
| Paint types | Oil Paint · Watercolor Paint |
| Painting surfaces | Canvas · Paper |
| Painting methods | Broad, vigorous oil strokes, thick dark-light contrasts, and quick watercolor washes often combined with pencil or conté crayon |
| Common subjects | Street vendors, immigrant communities, working people, children, city life, and rural landscapes |
| Notable works | The Old Duchess · Boy with Baseball · The Brook, Nova Scotia · Horse Trolley, New York City |
| Early career | Worked as a newspaper illustrator, including the Yellow Kid comic strip |
| Watercolor practice | Joined the New York Watercolor Club in 1914 and produced many works on paper |
Sources: The Met: The Old Duchess, oil on canvas, The Met: Boy with Baseball, oil on canvas, The Met: Horse Trolley, New York City, watercolor and pencil, The Met: The Brook, Nova Scotia, watercolor and pencil, The Met: The Ashcan School.
Paint types used
Luks used vigorous oil strokes for portraits and city subjects and quick watercolor washes for landscapes and neighborhood studies.
Watercolor Paint
Watercolor paint is a water-based art medium made with pigment and a water-soluble binder, typically applied in transparent washes on absorbent paper.
Surface types used
Canvas supported Luks's oil portraits, while paper carried watercolor views of New York and the Berkshires with pencil underdrawing.
Canvas
Canvas is a woven fabric support, commonly cotton or linen, used for painting and sold either raw or prepared with a compatible ground layer.
Paper
Paper is an absorbent sheet material made from pressed fibers, with weight, sizing, and surface texture controlling moisture tolerance and paint behavior.
Painters similar to George Luks
Henri helped bring Luks into the Ashcan circle; Sloan likewise portrayed everyday street scenes and worked in illustration.
Robert Henri
Robert Henri was an American painter and Ashcan School leader known for boldly brushed portraits, modern subjects, and influential teaching.
John Sloan
John Sloan was an American Ashcan School painter known for candid New York street scenes, neighborhood routines, and direct observations of city life.