Woolworth Building, No. 32 [recto] 1913

Editor: This is John Marin's "Woolworth Building, No. 32", painted in 1913 using watercolor. It's such a flurry of brushstrokes, I'm struck by how ephemeral it makes this massive skyscraper feel. What do you see in it? Curator: Well, first, I feel a kindred spirit. Marin’s captured not just the Woolworth Building, but its essence – its upward surge, its brash modernity that both excites and slightly threatens. It's as if he felt the city breathing. You get that sense, too, don’t you – that vibrant energy of New York at the time? Editor: I do, especially the way the colours sort of bleed into each other. I’d imagine trying to contain such a huge structure within such delicate washes of colour. Curator: Exactly! Think of it - a watercolour representing this steel behemoth. The unexpectedness of that is wonderful, isn't it? It’s almost as if he’s saying, “Yes, it’s strong, it’s imposing, but it’s also fleeting, like a dream.” And look how he uses the white space – the absence of colour. It pushes the eye upwards and creates this illusion of even greater height. It's almost weightless despite the bulk of it. Editor: That makes so much sense. I hadn't considered the empty space like that. Now I feel like I see this imposing force dissolving at the edges. Curator: Yes, in the end, we have an intimate moment with the most prominent symbol of modern, urban America. It’s powerful and subtle all at once, isn’t it? Editor: It really is, like an echo of a titan. Thanks for pointing out all the layers I missed!