Upper East River, New York 1935

Curator: John Marin’s watercolor and drawing, “Upper East River, New York” from 1935, gives us an interesting perspective of the city during a dynamic era. Editor: The eye certainly bounces all over the place, doesn't it? There's a vibrant energy but also a muted, almost melancholic wash to it. The geometric structures of the buildings stand in stark contrast to the fluidity of the water. Curator: It's reflective of Marin's engagement with the urban landscape. He sought to capture not just the appearance, but also the feeling and tempo of modern life in New York. The East River was crucial for the industrial activities of the city at that time, a place of constant coming and going. Editor: Yes, and it's rendered here with such a loose hand. The lack of clearly defined forms creates a sense of dynamism, of the city as perpetually in motion. Notice how the red accents draw the eye, giving vibrancy to a city usually painted with grit. It nearly becomes a feeling. Curator: This approach certainly echoes modernist styles like Impressionism but with a distinct American accent, focused less on light and more on capturing the restless spirit of the city, post-Depression era. You see similar scenes depicted by other members of the Stieglitz circle who shared an interest in the American urban experience. Editor: Thinking about those red accents, they are so cleverly placed to lead us through the composition. And that interplay between the geometric forms and more organic, almost chaotic lines of the river gives such wonderful visual tension. Curator: Absolutely. Marin saw New York not as a static subject but as a vibrant social space that's captured in all its frenetic energy. Editor: This certainly highlights how a city, seemingly cold and impenetrable, could be rendered with so much palpable sensation. Curator: A sensation rooted in reality, a unique perspective into the narrative of urban change, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Definitely. It is fascinating how much Marin’s style extracts the feel of the epoch from the geometric shapes and color use. It becomes more than just visual recreation.