Fifth Avenue, 1909 1941

This is John Sloan’s etching, *Fifth Avenue, 1909*. Look at how Sloan created this bustling street scene with a dense network of fine lines. It's like he’s building the city, one tiny mark at a time. Up close, you can almost feel the grit of the city streets and the soft texture of the ladies’ feathered hats. See that woman in the center, with her big, dark hat? The way Sloan etched her fur stole gives it a real sense of plushness and depth, doesn't it? The detail in that one mark shows the whole story. There's something here of the approach of Whistler, in the emphasis on tone, but also something of the Ashcan school, in the grit and the detail. Ultimately, art is a conversation across time. It's all about the back and forth, isn't it?