Rainy Night, N.Y. near Queensboro Bridge 1939

Syd Browne made this moody aquatint print, Rainy Night, N.Y. near Queensboro Bridge, sometime in the 20th century. The composition is made up of different tones of black, hatched in a multitude of directions, creating a shimmering atmosphere that brings to mind the feeling of a wet city. I love the way Browne uses aquatint to conjure up the dampness in the air, the reflections of the streetlights on the slick sidewalks. Look at the sky: the etched marks are dense, almost velvety, and the bridge feels heavy, pressing down on the scene below. Then, notice the lone figure with the umbrella. That darker silhouette at the bottom right acts like a fulcrum, balancing the weight of the bridge and creating a sense of depth. This piece has echoes of Whistler, maybe, but Browne’s got his own thing going on. What I see is a really personal vision of a city in flux. It’s not just a picture; it’s a mood.