Richard Estes remains the foremost figure in photorealist painting, transforming everyday subjects into captivating visual narratives. Escalator at Penn Station exemplifies Estes' fascination with travel and transport hubs, particularly in his beloved New York City. Considered a symbolic representation of the modern city, Estes's has frequently returned to the motif of escalators throughout his career. In Escalator at Penn Station, Richard Estes depicts a viewpoint looking down the escalator entrance to Moynihan Train Hall, the recent expansion of Pennsylvania Station, which was unveiled in 2021. The dark lines of the windowpanes and the escalator rails draw the viewer's eye to the frenetic center of the painting, where travelers weave around each other. Above ground, a red crane and scaffolding hint at the ongoing construction activity at the site. Estes arranged his painting with satisfying clarity, arriving at a composition that is both specific to a moment in time and a timeless urban landscape.