The Longshoremen's Noon represents a casual gathering of longshoremen—men who labor "along shore"—on a busy Hudson River wharf. It is one of John George Brown's most celebrated scenes of urban life. Brown's careful rendering of dockworkers engaged in casual conversation emphasizes their social relationships rather than the drudgery of their labor, and seemingly builds a sense of humanity within the painting.
Part of the artist's sensitive treatment of this subject stems from his own biography. Brown had roots in the working-class community, having labored as a craftsman before becoming a professional artist. In the late 19th century, the longshoremen were a well-organized and active labor group. The prominent position of the Sun newspaper at the center of the composition suggests that the dockworkers' noontime conversation concerns current events, even union strikes, which were common at the time. However, Brown's painting is less about the harsh realities of life on the docks, and serves instead as a poignant representation of the character and community built by the people who worked there.