What subjects did artists of the Ashcan school depict?

active waterways with steamboats and ferries
busy street life and working-class leisure activities
middle-class women working in homes and factories
contemporary waste removal and recycling systems

The subjects that artists of the Ashcan school depicted were busy street life and working-class leisure activities.

The artists of the Ashcan school primarily depicted busy street life and working-class leisure activities. They were known for their realistic depictions of urban scenes, focusing on the gritty aspects of city life. Some of the subjects they portrayed included crowded city streets, tenement buildings, bustling markets, and people going about their daily routines. The artists aimed to capture the realities of urban living, rather than idealized or romanticized portrayals. Therefore, while they did depict aspects of urban life, such as active waterways with steamboats and ferries, contemporary waste removal and recycling systems, and middle-class women working in homes and factories were not typically the main subjects of their paintings.

The artists of the Ashcan school primarily depicted busy street life and working-class leisure activities. To arrive at this answer, we need to understand what the Ashcan school refers to.

The Ashcan school was a group of American artists who formed a movement known as the Ashcan school of art. This movement emerged in the early 20th century and focused on portraying urban life in New York City. The artists aimed to capture the gritty realities of everyday life, often depicting scenes that were not traditionally considered worthy subjects for fine art.

Now, let's break down the options you provided:

1. Active waterways with steamboats and ferries: Although the Ashcan school artists did portray urban life, their focus was primarily on city streets rather than waterways. While there may have been some exceptions, this subject matter is not typically associated with their work.

2. Busy street life and working-class leisure activities: This option aligns with the subject matter the Ashcan school artists commonly depicted. They sought to capture scenes of bustling city streets, crowded neighborhoods, and the activities and pastimes of working-class people.

3. Middle-class women working in homes and factories: While the Ashcan school artists explored themes related to class, their focus was typically on the working class rather than the middle class. Therefore, this option is not directly associated with their subjects.

4. Contemporary waste removal and recycling systems: Unlike some other art movements that addressed industrialization, the Ashcan school primarily focused on human subjects and urban landscapes. Depicting waste removal and recycling systems does not align with their typical subject matter.

In summary, the subject matter most commonly depicted by artists of the Ashcan school was busy street life and working-class leisure activities.