On his second stay in New York, Orozco made many works reflecting the city’s urban expansion and social dimension. The Subway presents several commuters on New York’s emblematic public transportation system, which first opened in 1904. The shadowy, stone-faced passengers impart a sense of melancholy to the scene, contrasting with the shiny train poles. A highly regarded artist in Mexico, Orozco struggled to find recognition in New York despite showing at several local galleries and completing a five-panel mural cycle at the New School in 1931.

Gallery label from

2020

Medium Oil on canvas
Dimensions 16 1/8 x 22 1/8" (41 x 56.2 cm)
Credit Gift of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller
Object number 203.1935
Department Painting & Sculpture

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