Yorkville Night

1947

Martin Lewis

Associated Names
Martin Lewis

Artist, American, born Australia, 1881 - 1962

The image shows a nighttime urban scene from a street-level perspective beneath an elevated structure. The street is dimly lit, with a bright grocery store on the left side. The horizon is hidden by the elevated tracks and buildings. A group of silhouetted figures can be seen in the distance against the store's light. The artwork features meticulous and detailed textures, depicting shadows and light interactions. The color palette is monochromatic using shades of brown and sepia. Dark shadows are cast by the structure above and the street, framing the brightly lit store and the figures. Elements like railings and human figures are hinted at in the shadows with delicate lines, adding depth to the scene.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    drypoint in black on Whatman wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Corcoran Collection (Bequest of Frank B. Bristow, 1968)

  • Dimensions

    plate: 21.91 × 29.37 cm (8 5/8 × 11 9/16 in.)
    sheet: 27.31 × 37.47 cm (10 3/4 × 14 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2015.19.1272

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    McCarron 1995, no. 140

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Frank B. Bristow, Falls Church, Virginia; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1968; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2017

  • The Urban Scene: 1920-1950, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 2017

Bibliography

1995

  • McCarron, Paul. The Prints of Martin Lewis: A Catalogue Raisonné. Bronxville, New York: M. Hausberg, 1995, pp. 232-233, no. 140.

Inscriptions

lower left in graphite: Yorkville Night; lower right in graphite: Martin Lewis; lower left verso in graphite by unknown hand: E14189 / mu

Markings

stamped center verso in black ink (twice): F.B.B. [circled]

Watermarks

[Whatm]an 1938 England

Wikidata ID

Q77012227

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