Street Scene 1939

A. Grant Arnold made this print, called Street Scene, using black ink on paper. Look at how the marks are applied to the paper. The whole piece has this scribbly, anxious energy, like a charcoal drawing. It feels like the product of someone walking around with a sketchbook. It's all about texture, the way the light bounces off the buildings. I love the little sign that says 'Soda Cigars'. And that MEAT sign, hanging over the butcher shop. See how the darkest darks make those windows pop? The eye just bounces around the piece, searching for details in the scene. Everything is line, cross hatching and subtle tonal shifts. It reminds me a little of George Bellows' cityscapes and his gritty scenes of urban life. It’s a world where things don’t quite line up, and everything feels just a little off.