New York c. 1940

Ruth Lewin made this block print, called New York, sometime in the mid twentieth century. I really dig how the whole image is built from these dense, close packed marks. It’s like she's translated the city into a language of pure texture, where even the sky has a kind of grittiness. There’s a tension here between the solidity of the bridge and the more fluid, organic forms of the cityscape. Those stark black beams and girders feel so solid, but then you notice how the little white marks create a sense of vibration, like the whole structure is humming with energy. Look at the way the water is rendered with these tight, almost frantic lines, compared to the more controlled hatching of the buildings. It's a real contrast. I’m reminded of other artists who explored urban landscapes, like Lyonel Feininger, but Lewin brings a different kind of intimacy. This print feels like a personal record, a love letter scratched into the surface of the wood, a conversation with the city itself.