In the Corner

This painting- In the Corner depicts two children embracing in an intimate setting, seemingly caught unaware by the observer. Notice the little girl in a red orange coat and cap, leaning over the boy. As if you have stumbled upon them in an enclosed dark area. Luks\'s treatment of these homey subjects tends to be lively. Notice the contrast between the vivid red garment and the boy\'s face and the surrounding brown-black background. The latter seems to recede into the distance, creating an impression of a dark interior, with architectural details indistinct. Luks\'s narrowed range of tone makes the red attire stand out as the central feature of the composition. The little girl is whispering something, her mischievous expression suggesting that she says something amusing to the boy, who turns away, pretending not to look at her. Instead of presenting children as innocent angels, Luks captures a simple social interaction, one that interests him as a human being. The two children are the subject of this painting, in which the artist explores their facial expressions and gestures. It is a part of the Ashcan School, whose artists rejected traditional academic subjects in favor of modern urban themes. Luks was particularly interested in class, exploring the lives of those who were often ignored by fashionable artists of the time. Not only that, the way he portrayed children indicated his broader interest in observing common people. The Ashcan School painters are realistic; however, their realism was not confined to poor urban families. This work shows that Luks could capture the psychological profile of a person of modest means, a child in this case. He managed to make a common encounter a fascinating examination of companionship, curiosity, and amusement.