Mcsorley's Bar Oil On Canvas By John Sloan

McSorley’s Bar oil on canvas by John Sloan is an authentic representation of Sloan, his political views, the groups he associated with, and early 20th-century American realism and impressionism. The painting is set in McSorley’s Old Ale House and captures a moment that represents the urban social life of the working class in New York City. His dark palette and loose brushstrokes represent his art style and offer a glimpse into the early 20th-century men’s social spaces.

John Slaon was regarded as a central figure in “The Ashcan School” (https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1881.html). The Ashcan School is “a group of Realist artists who set themselves apart from and challenged the American Impressionists and academics.” https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ashc/hd_ashc.htm. The group did not have much in common by style or subject matter, but they all supported the view of Henri’s credo, “art for life’s sake.” It implies that art carries its own value regardless of what it portrays or any attached social, political, or ethical meanings. Upholding this idea was just as daring as any political or ethical meaning because it went against the

The painting McSorley’s Bar, painted by John Sloan, depicts six working class men standing and drinking what one assumes to be ale. The painting follows the trend of Sloans, darker color palettes and loose brushwork. Saloons and bars traditionally were places for working men to gather, converse, eat, and drink. Sloan was a regular at McSorley’s and was interested in the range of customers. Sloan upheld the idea of “art for life’s sake” by capturing these figures without judgment and focusing more on the figures themselves, their shape, poses, gestures, and