Figure of a Man - Back View

Early work as a newspaper illustrator made George Luks adept at recording quick, on-the-spot sketches, such as this drawing. Despite the cursory treatment of forms, he conveyed a sense of his subject’s individuality through such details as the bunched sleeves, the distinctive fedora, and the creased skin at the back of the neck. The man’s stance suggests that he—like the artist—has stopped to observe some urban spectacle. Indeed, Luks constantly roved the bustling streets of New York City with sketchpad in hand.