The artwork “Six O’Clock, Winter” is an oil on canvas painting created by the artist John Sloan in 1912. It exemplifies the New Realism movement, presenting a cityscape genre with dimensions of 66 x 81.3 cm (26 x 32 in.). The painting is housed in the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, United States.
In the artwork, Sloan captures a bustling urban environment at dusk. The canvas is divided horizontally by the dark silhouette of an elevated railway structure dominating the upper half of the painting, with a train illuminated from within making its way across. Below this, the crowded street scene is animated by the glow of street lamps and shop windows. Figures of various pedestrians are depicted in the foreground; their faces and postures rendered with a sense of immediacy and vibrancy that implies movement and the lively dynamics of city life. The color palette is rich with deep blues and warm, contrasting yellows and oranges, conveying the transition from day to night and the artificial lights coming to life. Sloan’s work often focused on the urban experience, and “Six O’Clock, Winter” is a prime example of his keen observation and ability to portray the energy of the city.
