Tuesday, September 24, 2024 – A TRANQUIL AFTERNOON IN THE PARK

By admin

ON THE GRASS

AT

TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK

Tuesday, September 24, 2024


EPHEMERAL NEW YORK

ISSUE # 1315

A rich display of humanity on the grass and benches of Depression-era Tompkins Square Park

Gossipers, nappers, confidantes, playmates—Morris Shulman’s 1938 painting “Tompkins Square Park” is a stylized portrait of dozens of neighborhood characters congregating at this East Village park on a lush night in Depression-era Manhattan.
The vibrant palette and expressive faces are captivating. Mothers chat while tending to an unseen baby in a bassinet. A little girl in a yellow dress holds an ice cream pop. A fellow in forgotten-man garb sits with his chin tucked into his chest, seemingly asleep.

Born in 1912, Shulman came to New York in the 1930s to study at the National Academy of Design, the Art Students League, and Hans Hofmann School of Art, according to incollect.com. Perhaps best known for his postwar works of Abstract Expressionism, he taught at many schools around the city, including the Brooklyn Museum School and the School of Visual Art.

Much about Shulman’s life and work is unknown to me. But at some point, this visual storyteller made his way to Tompkins Square Park and created an almost folk art–like tapestry of humanity sharing the grass and benches of one of New York’s oldest green spaces.

It’s part of the collection at the Jewish Museum.

Adult Education Class c. 1940  The Jewish Museum Collection

TIME-LIFE BUILDING
IS NOW 1271 6th Ave.

“A bas-relief in Bronze reproduces a style of type inspired by the 18th century English type founder William Caslon, symbolizing the beauty and function of the fundamental communication tool of Time & Life.” (Time-Life Building)

The wonderful sidewalk and lobby terrazzo remains.

THE HIGH HOLIDAYS
ARE SOON.

CREDITS

EPHEMERAL NEW YORK

JUDITH BERDY
JEWISH MUSEUM
ESTHER COHEN

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.

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