Empire State Building, N.Y.C. 1930

Gottlob Briem made this print of the Empire State Building in New York, sometime in the mid twentieth century. I like the tonal range he coaxes from the etching, from velvety blacks to hazy grays. It's like he's trying to capture the building's imposing presence, and the city's atmosphere all at once. Look at the way the lines vary in thickness and direction, creating a sense of depth and texture. The building emerges from a flurry of marks. The facade seems to be dissolving back into the ether from which it emerged. A kind of protean soup. It reminds me of Piranesi's etchings of Rome, where ancient ruins are romanticized through dramatic lighting and intricate detail. Both artists use the printmaking process to evoke a sense of awe and wonder at human accomplishment, while also hinting at the inevitable decay and transformation of all things. Art's like that, forever building and un-building itself.