John Sloan. 1871-1951.
Wake on the Ferry. 1949. Etching. Morse 313.iv. 5 x 7 (sheet 8 3/4 x 11 7/8). Edition of 350: 200 for the Art Students League and 150 for the artist. A fine impression printed by the etcher, Ernest David Roth, on cream-colored Rives paper with wide margins. Roth used selective plate tone in the sky to suggest a rainy day. Signed, titled and annotated 'Ernest Roth imp.' by the printer. Signed, titled and annotated '200 proofs' by Sloan in pencil. $1,250.
The Brooklyn Bridge frames the illuminated figures in the foreground of the print, though Sloan does not emphasize the architectural structure as much as he does the city dwellers and their stories. Sloan made two oil paintings of the subject; but for the etching, he decided to make "a humorous plate, 'The Wake on the Ferry (Drunken Irish 'Wake')" (quoted by Morse, p. 348.) This is Sloan's last recorded etching.
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