Glow of the City

Prints like this earned Martin Lewis the nickname “the psychologist of the megalopolis.” He examined urban scenes with a flawless realism and distance that are both omniscient and understanding. Once he found his subject, he made multiple sketches. He then gradually worked the surface of his plate with successive layers of lines, patterns and textures. Some of these were so intricate that he created them under a magnifying glass. Tiny lines, dots and flecks compose Glow of the City. In rendering the damp garments strung out to dry, the lighted windows and the glowing Chanin Building in the distance, Lewis showcases his technical abilities while probing New York’s psyche.