Seward Park (1936) by Ben Shahn

Seward Park - Ben Shahn - 1936

Artwork Information

TitleSeward Park
ArtistBen Shahn
Date1936
Art MovementSocial Realism

About Seward Park

The artwork titled “Seward Park” was created by artist Ben Shahn in 1936. It is an example of genre painting within the Social Realism art movement, which sought to draw attention to the everyday conditions of the working class and the poor, and to critique the social structures that maintained these conditions.

This painting depicts a group of four men of various ages in an urban setting, likely a part of a city park as suggested by the name of the artwork. They are dressed in attire characteristic of the 1930s working class: worn jackets, caps, and one sporting a fedora. Their postures and facial expressions suggest a sense of waiting or perhaps resignation, with some of the figures clutching their hands together or in their pockets, indicating cool weather or a sense of self-comfort in a time of distress or uncertainty.

The color palette of the painting is somewhat muted with an emphasis on earthy tones, which reinforces the somber mood of the scene. The background features a fence, possibly part of the park, and a stark, overcast sky, infusing the scene with an atmosphere of bleakness and potential struggle. It’s reflective of Social Realism’s focus on realism and the accurate, unembellished portrayal of life’s conditions.

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