Figures in a Park, Paris 1895

William James Glackens painted 'Figures in a Park, Paris' at the turn of the 20th century using oil on canvas. Glackens was one of the founders of the Ashcan School, a group of American artists who sought to depict everyday life in the city, particularly the lives of the working class. This painting reflects the influence of French Impressionism on Glackens' work, with its loose brushstrokes and focus on capturing a fleeting moment in time. Note how the park is filled with people from different social classes, all enjoying the leisure time afforded by the rise of industrial capitalism. It is reminiscent of paintings such as 'Le Moulin de la Galette' by Renoir, reflecting modern urban leisure, but here we see that the park is a public space, accessible to all. To understand Glackens' work fully, we might want to look into exhibition histories of the time to discover how paintings like these were received by critics and the public, as well as considering the relationship between American and European art institutions.