Broadway 1928

Curator: This etching, entitled "Broadway," dates to 1928 and comes to us from the artist Margaret Lowengrund. Editor: Stark. Immediately I'm struck by how the severe angles and looming verticality evoke the isolation one can feel even in the most densely populated spaces. Curator: That is certainly a powerful reading. Consider how Lowengrund has deployed line, particularly in her use of drypoint, to define forms. Notice the varying densities; a lighter touch delineates distant structures while the darker lines denote immediate architectural masses. The artist masterfully employs light and shadow to guide the eye. Editor: And within that play of light, there is a story, I think, of progress and societal hierarchy. The crisp, hard-edged geometry typical of Art Deco isn't merely decorative; it visualizes the streamlined, efficient systems—financial and structural—that create such a landscape. We can also consider who has access to the power implied in such a composition. Curator: Are you implying this rendering is intended to be critical? The image revels in the cityscape. I read a formal appreciation for the Art Deco aesthetic and the city's angular volumes. The sharp delineations create a stimulating, visually dynamic effect. Editor: And to me, the artist’s choices offer insight into the human costs of that dynamism, not as an objective record but rather with intentional meaning-making. The towering buildings eclipse smaller structures, visually echoing socio-economic realities on the ground in 1920s New York and indeed even now. Curator: It seems we agree, at least, that the sharp contrasts achieve a unique impression. Regardless of the exact motivation or intention, this cityscape stands as a compelling visual document. Editor: Absolutely. Seeing these visual and socio-political dynamics laid bare, through Lowengrund’s striking composition, generates a new perspective.