Colossus c. 1928

This etching, "Colossus," was made by Margaret Lowengrund sometime in the mid-20th century. The way she’s built the image out of tiny, scratchy lines feels immediate and process-driven, like she’s thinking through the image as she goes. Looking closer, it's all about texture. See how the dark sky buzzes with tiny marks, contrasting with the smooth, ghostly shapes of the buildings? This isn’t just a picture of a city; it’s a tactile experience. My eyes keep getting drawn to the lower left, the water which is almost like a field of grass, where the texture gives way to the smooth surface of the buildings. I’m reminded of Piranesi, those 18th-century etchings of imagined, colossal architecture, but Lowengrund brings a 20th-century sensibility with her. It’s like she’s saying, "Here's the grandeur, but also the grit.” And that, to me, is what makes it so compelling.