Men Atop Manhattan Skyscraper 1945

William Wolfson made this drawing, Men Atop Manhattan Skyscraper, in 1945. It’s all about the process; you can see the artist's hand in every line. The controlled chaos of marks creates a stunning bird's-eye view. The material aspect of the work is fascinating. The surface has a grainy texture. It makes you wonder what kind of paper Wolfson used. The drawing's composition and contrast enhance the feeling of looking down from a great height. It really gives you vertigo! Look at the workers carefully. They're so small against the massive cityscape, yet they're the focal point. They are dwarfed by the skyscraper and the antenna, but they represent human ambition and ingenuity. The drawing reminds me of the work of Joseph Stella. Like Stella, Wolfson captures the energy and dynamism of the city. Both artists saw the beauty in modern structures. Art is an ongoing conversation, each piece building on what came before, open to many interpretations.