Australian-born Lewis (1881-1962) has become one of the most celebrated American printmakers working in the
first half of the 20th century, creating
approximately 150 prints between 1915 and 1953. While many of his
contemporaries explored the ever-changing New York
cityscape by meticulously capturing its evolving architecture, Lewis was fascinated with the
ways in which people lived their everyday lives in
the city.
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| Night scenes, like lot 222, Night in New York, were a popular motif of the artist. |
Lewis spent two formative years in Japan, from 1920 to 1922.
Though relatively short, this sojourn abroad
proved indispensible to his development as an
artist. Upon his return to the states he made a
number of prints based on drawings from his time
in Japan. These Japanese prints offer an
interesting look at Lewis's portrayal of nature and
rural life.
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| Lot 211 is Lewis's Trees at Gotemba, one of the Japanese subjects he depicted in his prints. |
Lewis' most
masterful prints depict quotidian scenes of New
York City life. His use of shadow and light to
create mood, life and movement is most fully
realized in his New York prints. The time of day,
the weather, the lighting, the street-level
views; each of these was important and added to the
atmosphere of a scene. They are among his most
celebrated works, incorporating all of the aspects
that make his prints such cherished glimpses into
New York's bustling yesteryear, while
simultaneously capturing the timelessness of city
life.
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| Lot 221: Lewis's masterful Glow of the City epitomizes his ability to capture the every day lives of city dwellers and their environs. |
In our March 5 auction we feature several prints by Lewis that are
exceedingly rare, some of which have never come up for auction
before. These including The "El" Station, 1919 and The Equilibrists, 1939.
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| Lot 229, The Equilibrists, will make its auction debut on March 5. |
Thanks to Sylvie Francois in our Prints department for submitting this post.
Labels: 19th and 20th century prints and drawings, Australia, cityscapes, drypoint, etching, Japanese prints, Martin Lewis, New York City, printmaker, sylvie Francois
