El Tracks c. 1932

Beatrice Lavis Cuming created this print titled 'El Tracks'. It presents a city view dominated by elevated train tracks, buildings and bridges, rendered in delicate lines. The monochromatic palette and detailed hatching give it a textured feel, evoking a sense of urban grit. Cuming's composition plays with perspective, drawing the eye along the curving tracks, hinting at movement and depth. The linear structures of the buildings, bridges, and tracks create a complex network, mirroring the intricacy of modern city life. Cuming, however, destabilizes any clear sense of depth through her surface treatment. The artist's exploration of urban form is further complicated by the semiotic weight of architectural elements. The ‘Garage’ sign suggests the emerging culture of automobility, while the 'Sweeney MFG Co.' building alludes to industrial growth. These elements create a visual system that reflects early 20th-century urban experience. Notice how the detailed line work and structured composition reflect a larger discourse about modernity and the changing urban landscape. It remains a site for ongoing interpretation, inviting us to consider the intersections of form, structure, and cultural meaning.