Old House in Rector Street (from Scenes of Old New York) 1870

Henry Farrer created this etching of "Old House in Rector Street" as part of his "Scenes of Old New York". Farrer, an English-born artist, made this print in 1879 amidst rapid urbanization of New York, as immigration and industrialization transformed the city's landscape. The etching captures a sense of nostalgia for a vanishing past, freezing a moment of the old city. Two children stand on the sidewalk, dwarfed by the building. The detailed facade of the building and the garments hanging outside tell of lives lived. By capturing these ordinary aspects, Farrer preserves a narrative of working-class life. "Old House in Rector Street" asks us to reflect on what is lost and gained as societies evolve. The detailed etching invites us to consider the emotional and social impact of progress.