Street Corner 1942

Louise Arnstein Freedman created this color print, titled "Street Corner," sometime during the mid-twentieth century. Freedman was a social realist artist who was part of the WPA during the Great Depression. This print invites us to consider the everyday lives of city dwellers. The bold colors and simplified forms evoke the energy and grit of urban life. Freedman's scene presents a bustling street corner with signs for a tavern and bowling alley, and figures trudging along the snowy pavement. A closer look reveals signs advertising "Old Andrew Rye" whiskey and war bonds, embedding the work in a specific historical context. The signs are a reminder of the economic hardships and patriotic fervor of the era, and of the ways in which capitalism shapes the urban landscape and influences individual behavior. Freedman's print doesn't shy away from depicting the grit and realities of city life. It acts as a time capsule, capturing a moment in American history while also hinting at the timeless struggles and resilience of urban communities.