The artwork titled “Coney Island,” created by George Tooker, was completed between the years 1947 and 1948 in the United States. This genre painting, crafted using tempera, belongs to the art movement known as Magic Realism. The dimensions of the artwork are 48.26 by 66.04 centimeters.
In “Coney Island,” the viewer is presented with a scene under the iconic boardwalk, where a group of individuals, mostly in swimwear, are depicted in a setting that captures both the tranquility and the latent tensions of beach life. The composition is carefully arranged with figures at rest, displaying a range of postures and expressions that suggest introspection or quietude amidst the bustle of a beach environment. In the background, a busier beach scene unfolds, populated by more bathers who are engaged in various activities. The lighting in the artwork accentuates the physicality of the figures, rendering them with a sculptural solidity that enhances the overall sense of realism, while the nuanced interactions and layered spaces evoke an almost dreamlike atmosphere, characteristic of Magic Realism.
