Like many of the Ashcan School and others of The Eight, George Luks worked both as an illustrator and as a fine artist. His paintings, typical of the Ashcan School, depict urban life in New York, without a romantic sheen. Rough and vital in both theme and execution, Luks’ painting practice drew from his daily experiences on the Lower East Side. The progressive spirit which animated his work would fall from favor with the explosive entry of European Modernism at the landmark Armory Show in 1913, it certainly helped pave the way from the provincialism of 19th century art to a sophisticated and daring artform for the 20th century.