Lower New York 1934

Curator: Victoria Hutson Huntley’s "Lower New York," created in 1934, is an etching, a type of printmaking process, rendered in a style that leans towards Precisionism. It's an impressive piece, especially given the intricacy involved in etching. Editor: My immediate feeling is one of muted power. There's such imposing verticality to those buildings, but it’s tempered by a sense of distance and almost melancholy created by the hazy light and monochrome palette. Curator: Precisionism often focused on the industrial landscape and architectural forms, highlighting their geometric shapes and clean lines, something vividly on display here. You can practically feel the weight of these structures and, beyond just subject matter, I can’t help but wonder about the labour involved in creating so much architectural detail within the etching process. It suggests incredible skill and a commitment to her medium. Editor: The Statue of Liberty in the distance really anchors the composition, though, doesn't it? She’s more than just a monument, here: in that era she must have represented an ideal under tremendous pressure given the depression, not to mention all the cultural associations it has, it's such a strong statement even now, it makes one wonder about what New York represents on a world stage. Curator: Right, Huntley doesn't just celebrate progress uncritically; there’s the inclusion of industrial structures which also points towards social commentary of the impact of urbanisation and production, a subtle yet sharp depiction of a transforming society. What do you think the choice to focus on lower Manhattan in particular might signify? Editor: Lower Manhattan then, even more than now, symbolized commerce and new beginnings. Seeing it through this somewhat somber lens adds a layer of complexity, like a reminder of both ambition and precariousness. Perhaps the symbolic potential of a place shifts relative to its conditions, its social and political place and history… Curator: I appreciate you noting how she chose to portray industry; that visual of Liberty over industry gives us much to ponder, in the ways that materials were manipulated during industrial growth, and continue to impact life for laborers today. Editor: It makes you think how an artist might want viewers to feel and ponder through these deliberate choices, with iconic objects in a recognizable skyline, yet something doesn't feel as triumphal as one may think! Curator: Yes, the weight of material decisions, both in subject and execution, offer unique layers that prompt contemplation. Editor: Absolutely. Huntley successfully layers symbols and cultural values through an aesthetic lens, that makes her work thought-provoking for audiences now as much as it would've then.