Greenwich Village, Street Scene c. 1925

Jerome Myers made this street scene, in Greenwich Village, using etching. It's all about the power of line, isn't it? See how he captures the city's pulse with this swarm of tiny marks. There's a lovely kind of casualness to it. A scratchiness, even. It makes me think of an artist who is not afraid to let the process show. My eye is drawn to the facade of the main building, where horizontal lines create the effect of clapboard. These marks give depth but also evoke a sense of weathered history. The lines aren’t perfectly parallel, or evenly spaced and this slight irregularity creates a subtle visual rhythm that echoes the unpredictable energy of the street scene below. Myers makes me think of other artists who loved the city, like John Sloan. Like him, Myers wasn't trying to pretty things up. He shows us the real grit and beauty of everyday life.