The Coke and Gas Plant c. 1931 - 1932

Adolph J. Kopcak made this image of "The Coke and Gas Plant" using a monochrome palette and what looks like very fine marks. There is something so tender in the way the artist renders the heavy and angular industrial forms. The surface is built up from such delicate marks and the contrast between the softness of the smoke and water with the hard architecture really hits home. Look at the light as it cuts through the buildings and illuminates the workers in the foreground; it's so theatrical! In the bottom left-hand corner, the artist's signature is almost like a tiny, separate drawing. Its placement grounds the artwork in the same way a brush mark grounds a painting. It's a reminder that the image came from somewhere and was made by someone. I'm reminded of other American artists like Charles Sheeler, who found something so beautiful in the urban and industrial landscape. Ultimately, this piece shows us the beauty in industry.