Ice Cream is representative of Richard Estes' celebrated "slant/reflections" paintings, which were directly informed by the artist's photography practice. [1] In the late 1960s, Estes focused almost exclusively on reflective surfaces and New York City storefronts became a favored subject. Storefronts afforded him complex examples of reflections and detailed compositions through which to explore and problem-solve. In the slant/reflections paintings, Estes would aim his camera at the glass windows of a storefront at an angle looking toward the street. [1] The perspective creates multiple distinct sections of the composition and focal points, seen through glass, reflected on glass, and a direct street view. 

While Ice Cream gleans its title from the ice cream parlor it depicts, the core of the painting remains the richly detailed reflections and multiple focal points. The dynamic composition invites viewers to study the painting to comprehend its labyrinthine angles and viewpoints. While Estes varied the angles of the slant or distances from the storefronts, this unique treatment of the urban landscape remains a signature of his career and is quintessentially Estes.

[1] Louis K. Meisel and John Perreault, Richard Estes: The Complete Paintings 1966-1985, New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1986, p. 57