Pavonia-Jersey City (1928)
Reginald Marsh
American, 1898-1954
Oil on canvas

'Reginald Marsh's Pavonia-Jersey City shows casual activity in an industrial district in New Jersey. An attractive woman strides along the sidewalk of Pavonia Avenue and catches the attention of two men. Her allure is suggested by not only their gawking, but also the locomotive's whistling smokestack. Her rich red dress and position at the corner of the composition, where the entire weight of its design accumulates, ensure that she is the painting's primary focus.

Born in Paris, Marsh began his career in magazine illustration and worked among the initial staff of The New Yorker. A train enthusiast, the painter often crossed the Hudson River from his Manhattan studio to Jersey City, which had served as a transportation hub since the 19th century.'

🔸