Tattoo and Haircut

Reginald MarshWW-1932-132964

1932·Egg tempera on Masonite·118.1 × 121.6 cm (46 1/2 × 47 7/8 in.)

<p>One of the foremost realists of the 1930s, Reginald Marsh was fascinated by public behavior and excited by the commotion of New York City. <em>Tattoo and Haircut</em> portrays a busy scene of people talking, walking, and loitering below the massive structure of the elevated train that ran over the Bowery, then an area notorious for brothels, tattoo parlors, and transitory lodging. Marsh filled every inch of the composition with details, ranging from architectural elements to signs and text. Marsh used tempera—a medium that dries quickly—almost as if he were drawing. He added successive layers of muted colors resulting in a mottled, uneven surface that emphasizes the gritty nature of this world. His rapid, sketchy technique thus reinforced his presentation of the subject as cacophonous, dilapidated, and dim yet vibrantly alive.</p>

Catalogue

Year: 1932
Medium: Egg tempera on Masonite
Dimensions: 118.1 × 121.6 cm (46 1/2 × 47 7/8 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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