Viaduct in London 1915

Mstislav Dobuzhinsky made this pencil drawing, Viaduct in London, on paper sometime in the early 20th century. Dobuzhinsky, who was of Lithuanian and Russian heritage, had a penchant for cityscapes, a theme he explored throughout his career. Here, stark verticals and horizontals dissect the composition, which is imbued with both the grandeur and the gloom of industrial architecture. The artist’s somber vision resonates with the social and political tensions of a pre-war Europe undergoing rapid industrialization. Look closely, and you might discern the faces of ghostly figures in the shadows, a haunting presence that reminds us of those who lived and worked in this landscape. There is a tension between the beauty and alienation often found in urban environments. The viaduct, a structure meant to connect, paradoxically isolates, creating a stage for the solitary experience of modern life. This echoes our own reflections on how cities shape our identities and experiences.