Man Monkey 1905

John Sloan made this etching, Man Monkey, working with line to create tone and texture. Look at all those lines! It’s amazing how he captures the frenetic energy of the street scene with such simple means; all these lines, packed together, make this a real spectacle. The lines are scratchy and dense, almost vibrating with movement; there’s so much happening in this image. And even though it's all monochrome, the image still feels so lively, like you can hear the cacophony of the street, with the organ grinder, the drum and the excited kids. Check out the figure with the drum; the way the lines describe his motion, makes you feel like you’re right there in the crowd, swept up in the energy. Sloan worked a lot with urban themes in his prints. Think about how his approach compares to someone like Daumier. While Daumier used lithography for social and political commentary, Sloan focused on capturing everyday life. It's a reminder that art is always a conversation, building upon what came before while forging its own path.