New York Towers from Brooklyn Bridge 1925

Ludwig Reiner made "New York Towers from Brooklyn Bridge" with etching on paper. The sepia ink feels like a memory, the sepia-toned world of old photographs, a little bit faded and nostalgic. Reiner has built up the image from tiny little marks, like he's building the image from dust, and that dust is New York City. The ink is layered and you can almost feel the texture of the paper, the little peaks and valleys that hold the ink. Look at the way the lines of the bridge's suspension cables cross and divide the image, cutting through the cityscape. The buildings fade into the background, almost ghost-like, while the bridge, with its sharp, dark lines, is brought into focus. There's a delicate feel to this print, reminiscent of Whistler's etchings, but with a uniquely American flavor. Reiner isn't just showing us a view, he's giving us a feeling, a mood, a sense of place steeped in history and memory.