Woolworth Building, No. 31 1912

John Marin made this watercolor of the Woolworth Building using paper, pigment, and brush. Rather than a straightforward depiction, Marin’s work is more like an emotional response, and the watercolor medium is key to this effect. Its fluid, translucent quality allows the building to emerge from a wash of atmosphere, almost vibrating with energy. Notice the loose, gestural brushstrokes. They capture the dynamism of the city, blurring the line between representation and abstraction. Marin’s method speaks to a modern sensibility, rejecting academic precision for subjective expression. Yet, there's also an echo of traditional techniques in his mastery of wash and tone. The Woolworth Building itself, completed in 1913, was a soaring monument to commerce and industry, but here it is treated with an individual, hand-worked touch. Marin's choice of watercolor elevates this modern subject, bridging the gap between industrial achievement and artistic interpretation.