In 1896, Luks moved to New York City and began work as an artist for Joseph Pulitzer's "New York World", where one of his assignments was to draw the popular "Hogan's Alley" comic-strip series. Luks began drawing the Yellow Kid after its creator, Richard F. Outcault, departed the "World" for W. R. Hearst's "New York Journal." During his time as an illustrator there, he lived with William Glackens. Along with Everett Shinn and Robert Henri, Glackens encouraged Luks to spend more time on his serious painting. What ensued were several productive years in which Luks painted some of the most vigorous examples of what would be called "Ashcan art."