Extra Paper State Street Scene 1946

In Archibald Motley’s painting, "Extra Paper State Street Scene," we are thrown into a bustling urban tableau. The newspaper, prominently featured, serves as a symbol of communication and collective consciousness. Motley's painting evokes the ancient Roman Forum, where news was shared and public opinion shaped, echoing through time to this modern street scene. Note, too, the news vendor and his wares – images of Hermes, the swift messenger, come to mind. This god, representing the dissemination of knowledge, reappears in our modern age as newsprint. The act of reading, like prayer, connects individuals to a shared narrative, fostering a sense of communal identity. Through Motley’s vibrant scene, we glimpse the cyclical nature of symbols – forever resurfacing, reformed, and redefined.