Untitled (Under the Manhattan Bridge) 1917

This etching ‘Untitled (Under the Manhattan Bridge)’ was created by George Elmer Browne using delicate lines on paper. Look at the way the marks build up in the shadows under the bridge, like he’s layering darkness to evoke a sense of mystery. I can imagine Browne, standing there, squinting, and trying to capture the sheer scale of the bridge against the tiny figures below. It’s like he’s trying to trap a moment, the city’s breath, in a web of lines. The surface of the paper is so important here, not just as a ground but as a collaborator. The white of the paper breathes through the lines, providing a ghostly contrast. It reminds me of Whistler’s cityscapes but with a touch more grit. Browne has a feel for the urban landscape, and his ability to see the poetry in the everyday. Artists see each other’s work and then they add their own little twist.