Realist Paintings
Henri, Robert. Snow In New York. National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, Oil on Canvas. 1902. Web. 5 Nov. 2016.
Shinn, Everett. Cross Streets Of New York, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, Oil on Canvas. 1899. Web. 5 Nov. 2016.
Though both "Snow in New York" and "Cross Streets of New York" are depicted by Realist painters who belong to Ashcan school of painting and choose poor neighborhoods as the main subject, the paintings differ in techniques, palette, general atmosphere and impression on the viewer.
The brushstrokes in "Snow in New York" are large and dry with the use of wet-into-wet technique, which makes the snowstorm look more realistic. Robert Henri does not use detalization but creates sharp outlines of the objects instead. Meanwhile, Everett Shinn makes a detailed representation of objects and people by using thin brushstrokes and the so-called direct technique or working wet into wet in some places of the canvas, which creates a blurred vision of the distant objects and makes them look true to life. However, the brushstrokes of Robert Henri and Everett Shinn are similar in some way, because both painters depict the motion of people and falling snow by making distinct brushstrokes in particular directions.
The choice of color is another difference between the paintings. "Snow in New York" is painted in rather neutral, greyish colors, while "Cross Streets of New York" is highly contrasted. While the mood of "Snow in New York" is rather gloomy and depressing, "Cross Streets of New York" is full of life and inspiring.
Though both paintings belong to Ashcan School of Realist movement and are united by subject matter, they differ in painting techniques and use of color, and thus have a totally different effect on the …
