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Hairdresser's Window 1907 John Sloan
oil on canvas |
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Sloan described the genesis of the painting: "Walked up to Henri's studio. On the way saw
a humorous sight of interest. A window, low, second story, bleached blond dresser
bleaching the hair of a client. A small interested crowd about.... Walked out to take
another look at the Hair Restorer's Window. Came back and started to paint it." Sloan
apparently finished the picture after three more sessions of work. At a time when urban
planners complained that the "billboard menace" threatened to overwhelm New Yorks's
streetscape, Sloan artfully arranged the rectangular signs in the painting and filled them
with puns. including "Madame Malcomb's," the name of the hair salon. |
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