Untitled (Machine Ornament) c. 1923

Louis Lozowick made this drawing, Untitled (Machine Ornament), with ink on paper. It’s got that industrial, mechanical feel, but also a touch of the surreal about it. I can almost see Lozowick hunched over his desk, carefully inking in these precise, architectural forms. There’s this tension between the organic and the geometric that is so characteristic of his work. Look at that shape at the top – like a sun, but also a cog in a machine. And the way it connects to the building below with that single, unwavering line. It’s like he’s mapping out some kind of futuristic cityscape. It’s very constructivist, but with a distinct American edge. You can feel the excitement, but also maybe a little anxiety, about the machine age. Lozowick was part of a whole generation of artists exploring the urban landscape and the beauty of industry. They were all in dialogue with each other, riffing off each other’s ideas. And it makes me think about how we’re still grappling with those same themes today, trying to make sense of technology and its impact on our lives.