Under Manhattan Bridge 

Earl Horter made this etching, "Under Manhattan Bridge," sometime in the first half of the 20th century. Here, Horter shows the bustling commercial activity under the looming presence of the Manhattan Bridge. The bridge, a feat of modern engineering, provides a stark contrast to the traditional market scene below, populated by vendors and shoppers engaged in everyday transactions. This juxtaposition speaks to the rapid urbanization and industrialization of New York City during this period, where old ways of life were increasingly overshadowed by new technologies and infrastructures. Horter’s choice of subject matter reflects a broader artistic interest in capturing the dynamism and diversity of urban life. The etching technique, with its intricate lines and tonal variations, allows him to convey the gritty realism of the scene, emphasizing the textures of the buildings, the crowds of people, and the play of light and shadow under the bridge. To understand Horter's New York, we can turn to resources like municipal archives and historical societies, which document the period's transformations. Art, here, becomes a valuable record of a city in flux, a place reshaped by ambition and progress.