Old Schoolhouse, Ryders 1929

George Luks painted ‘Old Schoolhouse, Ryders’ with watercolor; you can see his hand moving confidently across the paper, trying to capture the scene. The palette is bright and sunny, with greens, yellows, and reds, and it feels like a day in the country. I can imagine Luks standing on that lawn, squinting, maybe a little stressed about capturing what he’s seeing. The brushstrokes are quick and a little chunky, especially in the foliage of the trees and grass; he’s trying to get the essence of the scene down fast. He lays down the shadow in dark blue as a counterpoint to the bright greens and yellow ochre in the background. Did he think that the shadow was a little too dark? Maybe. What did the painting feel like when he was done? Did he want to keep going? Luks was part of the Ashcan School, and like many of them, his work often focused on everyday life and ordinary scenes. He seemed committed to the idea that painting is about more than just appearances. The conversation between art and life continues with artists today!