L Fulton Street 1935 - 1943

Mortimer Borne's "L Fulton Street" is an etching on paper, its matrix of lines and tonality capturing a slice of urban life. The composition is structured by the receding perspective of the street, drawing the eye from the foreground figures towards the architectural backdrop. Borne uses the stark contrast between light and shadow to define form, creating depth. The elevated train structure looms overhead, its intricate framework casting a dense network of shadows that pattern the street. This interplay between the structural solidity of the architecture and the fleeting nature of light evokes a sense of the city's complex, dynamic character. The artist's technique reflects an engagement with the urban experience, transforming the everyday scene into a study of form and texture. Borne’s print invites us to consider how the formal elements of art can capture the transient energy and structural complexity of urban life.