Coney Island c. 1940

Harry Shokler’s print, Coney Island, is a riot of color, likely made with a screenprinting process. It captures a moment in time, but it's also super-flat, playing with how we see and feel a place. The whole image is built from these distinct color blocks. Look how he uses these blues and pinks, not to copy reality, but to amp up the dreamlike quality of a day at the fair. The surface is smooth, almost like the colors are floating on the paper. What really grabs me is how Shokler simplifies everything, turning the scene into shapes and colors. It’s like he's asking us to not just look at Coney Island, but to feel its pulse, its energy. The Wonder Wheel hovers like a beacon, its spokes radiating out, holding all the excitement together. It reminds me of Stuart Davis, who also took the everyday world and made it sing with color and form. This piece isn't just a picture, it's an experience.