Lower Manhattan 1930

Editor: This is "Lower Manhattan," a 1930 drawing by George Ault. It looks like an etching, with these sharp lines forming a cityscape. It strikes me as very...stark. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Stark is a brilliant word for it! The Precisionist style really lends itself to that feeling. I see a city caught between aspiration and alienation. Look at how Ault renders those geometric forms; they’re almost painfully precise, right? It’s like he's dissecting the modern world with his pencil. Do you feel that separation, the way the buildings stand apart, even while forming a cohesive unit? Editor: I do see that. There's a feeling of… almost loneliness, despite being a cityscape, and even with the ships in the harbor. Curator: Precisely. The harbor suggests connection, sure, but notice the absence of human figures. We are offered only the machines of progress and industry, puffing out these ominous plumes. Ault lived through the Great Depression; do you think this reflects a skepticism of urban, industrial dreams of prosperity, maybe even a critique? Editor: It’s interesting to consider the historical context and to look at it that way. I hadn’t thought about the plumes from the ships that way—they definitely feel less optimistic now! I initially only interpreted it as purely visual, without symbolism. Curator: That’s the beauty of art, isn’t it? You bring your own interpretation, informed by your own experiences and knowledge. Ault might not have even been thinking any of that! And you have to wonder about his focus on light and shadow; is there maybe an expression of hope amidst the harsh angles? Editor: Definitely gives you something to think about. Thanks, this has been a very helpful perspective. Curator: My pleasure, hopefully Ault would approve!