Excavation. Penn Station 1906

Ernest Lawson’s *Excavation. Penn Station* (1906) depicts the construction of the iconic train station in New York City. The painting captures the energy and chaos of the construction site, with workers and machinery filling the foreground. The artist's use of bold brushstrokes and loose composition is characteristic of the Ashcan School, which emphasized the gritty realities of urban life. Lawson’s painting is a testament to the transformative power of modernization and the industrial revolution on the American landscape, offering a glimpse into a pivotal moment in the city’s history.