Description

The area around Sixth Avenue and Thirtieth Street, or the Tenderloin neighborhood of Manhattan, was the impoverished red-light and entertainment district of the city. In this image, John Sloan emphasized the contrast between a brightly dressed and feathered woman, heading out for the day, and the children on the street amid the general squalor of the area. The location and the children’s stares suggest that the lady may be an employee of one of the many brothels in the neighborhood.