Old Philadelphia 

Earl Horter created this etching titled "Old Philadelphia" sometime during his career, which spanned the early 20th century. Horter’s Philadelphia was a city undergoing significant transformations, grappling with the tensions between preserving its historical character and embracing modernization. This piece invites us to consider the changing urban landscape and its impact on the lives of ordinary people. Look at the buildings. Aren't they looming over the figures in the foreground? The two figures on the left are in the lower left corner, huddled together, and seem dwarfed by the architecture surrounding them. This evokes a sense of intimacy amidst the vastness of the city, a feeling of anonymity within a rapidly changing social fabric. Horter's choice of etching as a medium lends itself to a sense of nostalgia and timelessness. It subtly highlights the contrasts between old and new. It leaves us pondering the emotional and social consequences of progress.