Tall Buildings 1943

Charles William Smith made this print, called Tall Buildings, using a monochrome palette, where variations of a single color create depth and texture. It’s less about what the buildings are, and more about how they're made. Looking at the surface, you can see how the ink isn't laid down smoothly but has areas of uneven texture, like the artist pressed a bit harder in some spots. This isn't a mistake; it's part of what gives the print its character. Notice how the tall lines of the buildings are built up of smaller marks. It reminds me of the way a jazz musician builds up a melody note by note, each one adding to the whole. Prints like this remind us that art is always a conversation, both with ourselves and with other artists. Maybe Smith was looking at the early modernist etchings of skyscrapers by someone like Joseph Stella, or maybe he was just messing around in his studio, experimenting with texture and form. Either way, it's the process that matters.