I used an old drawing of a carriage which was drawn around the 1890’s. I measured everything out but I think the artist had a few things out of proportion. For one thing, the wheels are too close together. You’d have to squeeze tightly between them to get up into your seat. Maybe, it’s just the angle, but, that’s exactly how the reference picture looked.

The Hebrew lettering means, “Deli.” On the bakery next door, I heard that German businesses have the owner’s name second. It wouldn’t be “Blumgartner’s Bakery,” but “Bakery Blumgartner.”

As you see, I wanted to illustrate a variety of immigrants who came to America around this time. I was thinking of titling it, “New Arrivals” or something. LIke another street scene I did before this, I tried a big swatch of light going down the middle. I think it came out nice.

I didn’t really capture the squalid conditions immigrants had to face at this time, but I didn’t make everything all bright and neat and clean either.

I didn’t put anything crazy or silly, like I usually do, so subsequently I didn’t have my usual laugh. I think the quality of it is pretty good.

By the way, the signs on the Bakery mean “Special: Four dinner rolls 10 cents,” and “Yes, We are open.”