Design sketches for Hotel Alamac, 71st and Broadway, New York, NY.] [Sketch for Medieval Grill Murals 1923

Winold Reiss made these design sketches for the Hotel Alamac, in New York. It feels like you’re peeking over the shoulder of Reiss as he's thinking through the murals for the hotel's Medieval Grill, the graphite lines are so immediate and raw. I imagine Reiss working quickly, mapping out the geometry of harlequins and stylized faces. There’s such a vivid sense of theater here, a kind of stage being set. I love the jagged, zig-zagging patterns next to the figures, how they create a rhythm, like the music that might have filled the grill. You know, looking at this makes me think about the process of mural-making, and how different it is from easel painting. It demands such a strong vision, and ability to work at scale. Reiss really embraced that challenge, and his murals brought a real flair to the urban landscape. These kinds of gestures between painting, architecture, and design continue to inspire artists today.