St. Paul's at Broadway, No. 3 1914

John Marin made this etching, St. Paul's at Broadway, No. 3, during a period of immense change in New York City. Marin, known for his unique approach to modernism, captures the city's energy and architectural dynamism. The print depicts St. Paul's Chapel dwarfed by the burgeoning skyscrapers. Marin uses a frenetic linework to capture the juxtaposition of old and new, sacred and secular. You can almost feel the city's relentless pace. "The whole city is alive," Marin once said. "Buildings, people, all are alive; and the more they move me the more I feel them to be alive." Look closely at the base of the image. The crowd represents the diverse, working-class citizens who were reshaping the city's identity. The contrast of the ephemeral crowd with the solidity of the buildings creates a sense of tension, hinting at the social stratification inherent in urban development. Marin’s print captures a pivotal moment in New York's history, reflecting both the excitement and the anxieties of a society in rapid transformation. It encourages us to consider the impact of progress on community and identity.