Democratic National Convention, Chicago 1932

Edgar L. Bloomster created this print of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1932. The graphic quality of the stark, dark lines gives the image an immediate sense of drama. A vast interior space is filled with rows upon rows of people, receding into the distance with an almost dizzying effect. Bloomster uses linear perspective to guide our eye through this sea of humanity. Banners of the different states create vertical breaks that punctuate the horizontal masses. Above, a network of hanging flags adds to the sense of depth but also contributes to a feeling of enclosure. Consider the effect of this composition: the individual is subsumed by the collective. The event becomes a spectacle, captured through Bloomster’s intricate and relentless mark-making. This relentless visual detail prompts us to reflect on the individual's place within such monumental events.