City Scene I 1949

Bernard Brussel-Smith made this print called 'City Scene I', and for me, the real magic is in how he builds this urban landscape out of just black and white. Look at how Brussel-Smith uses texture, like in the brickwork, to create depth. The grain is quite rough, almost like woodcut. I am drawn to the way the clouds in the sky seem to push forward and the buildings seem to recede, which really messes with your sense of space. It is like a city that's both familiar and totally alien at the same time. This print reminds me of Piranesi, with its impossible architecture and shadowy atmosphere, but it's got its own modern twist. It’s not about perfect representation; it’s more about feeling the energy of a place. Art's not about giving you all the answers; it's about sparking your own questions.