Otis Elevator Advertisement 1974

John Conrad Berkey made this Otis Elevator advertisement, with I'm guessing, oil on board. Looking at his brushwork, you can tell artmaking for Berkey was very much a process. The paint application is super interesting; it's thick in some areas and thin in others, creating a wonderful texture that adds depth to the futuristic cityscape. The color palette is restrained, mostly whites and blues, but there's a real vibrancy in how they're applied. Take a look at the top of the main building, where Berkey uses quick, gestural strokes to create the domed roof. It's almost as if he's building up the structure right before our eyes. You can almost feel the energy and movement in his process. Berkey's work reminds me a bit of Chesley Bonestell, another artist who explored the aesthetics of science and technology, but with a more painterly, expressive approach. It's cool how artists can interpret similar themes in such different ways, right? And it just goes to show that art is always a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas across time.