Picnic 1939

Abraham Harriton made this image called 'Picnic', using ink on paper. The figures are described with such energetic hatching and cross-hatching. Look at the way the artist has built up tone in the darker areas, and left other parts almost untouched, just a smattering of marks. It’s a real balancing act. There’s a real sense of movement in this work, and the image is filled with so many people, all engaged in different activities. At first glance, the composition might seem a little chaotic, but there’s a definite structure at play. The placement of the figures creates a series of interlocking shapes and patterns. Notice the way the artist uses a limited range of tones to create a sense of depth and volume. Harriton's work has echoes of the Ashcan School painters like John Sloan, with its unidealized vision of everyday life, capturing the spirit of a particular time and place. The beauty of art lies in its ambiguity, and its capacity to suggest multiple meanings and possibilities.