In Front of the New York Public Library

1931

Werner Drewes

Associated Names
Werner Drewes

Artist, American, 1899 - 1985

The image is an abstract architectural depiction from a slightly lower point of view. A tall building rises prominently in the scene, dominating the composition. The horizon is not explicitly defined, and the focus is on the vertical structures. The edge where the buildings meet the ground can be inferred. There are multiple architectural elements, including a classic columned structure close to us on the left, contrasting with the vertical contemporary lines of the central skyscraper. The style is characterized by bold, linear brushstrokes that give the image a strong sense of structure and form. There is no color except for monochrome black against a beige background. This stark palette highlights the play of light and shadow on the architectural forms, creating an impactful, graphic representation of the urban landscape.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    woodcut in black on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Bob Stana and Tom Judy

  • Dimensions

    image: 29.21 × 21.59 cm (11 1/2 × 8 1/2 in.)
    sheet: 42.86 × 30.48 cm (16 7/8 × 12 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2015.115.14

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Rose 1984, no. III.51, ii/ii


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Tobey C. Moss Gallery, Los Angeles, California); Bob Stana and Tom Judy, Washington, D.C.; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1982

  • 1931 America: The Artist's View, Sierra Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, Nevada; San Diego State University, California, 1982.

Bibliography

1984

  • Rose, Ingrid. Werner Drewes: A Catalogue Raisonné of His Prints. Munich and New York: Verlag Kunstgalerie Esslingen, 1984, p. 298, no. III.51, ii/ii.

Inscriptions

lower left in graphite: I - XX; lower right in graphite: W. Drewes - 1931; lower left edge in graphite by unknown hand: No. 60 / Before At The Library; lower center edge in graphite by unknown hand: dc 172 250; lower right edge in graphite by unknown hand: 100 [erased] net

Wikidata ID

Q77015387

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