A New York Day: Night

A New York Day: Night

This series of illustrations was created by Charles Dana Gibson and is titled “A New York Day: ‘Night’” (573-577). This was featured in the November monthly issue of Scribner’s Magazine. Charles Dana Gibson was a famous graphic artist who is best known for the iconic image of the beautiful and dependent American woman. This is a series of illustrations that demonstrates a series of events that could typically take place on an evening in New York City. This was one of the reasons I chose this series of images; the women are displayed in with elaborate dresses, clean hairstyles, and have a notion of confidence. This is illustrated on the title page of the series as the woman is dressed so properly and has her head slightly tilted up, showing she is independent and confident in herself. The following illustration is the girls meeting the musician they will watch at the show and it is evident they are somewhat enthused by him. The second illustration features five men in “The Club,” which I would consider a gentlemen’s club where men would discuss women and drink for leisure. The final illustration depicts the men surrounding one of the women that looks as if she was a performer and it is almost as if they are looking as her like a piece of meat, or as if they do not care for her at all. I found this series of images to relate to many of the details within Maggie: A Girl of the Streets. First, I would say the women represent the world Maggie was fascinated with and what drew her to the life with Pete. She was so engrossed in the dresses and the performers she saw because it was this whole different life to her, which I think was common thought of this era in New York. I believe there was a huge separation of class spheres, which was evident through the manners and dress of the people. I also felt this series of images depicted the idea of Pete, as he was never really enthused with the plays they attended and also was engulfed in this idea of being a man of spotless reputation. In a way it was also as if they people of this time could hide their insecurities through the way they dress. Therefore, I feel this was a strong reputation Maggie and Pete.

Charles Dana Gibson

Gibson, C. D. "A New York Day: ‘Night’." Scribner's Magazine [New York City] 1898, Vol. XXIV, No. 5: 573-577. Print.

Scribner's Magazine

November 2, 2015

Taylor Caldwell

1890's