View from Tudor City 1933

Albert William Heckman made this lithograph, “View from Tudor City,” using a method that democratized the graphic arts in the early 20th century. Lithography allowed artists to create multiples of their work, making art more accessible. The process involves drawing with a grease crayon on a flat stone or metal plate, then treating it with chemicals so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. The print captures the weight and texture of the city's architecture, emphasizing its geometric forms and the contrast between light and shadow. This image reflects the industrial labor that built New York, the labor that sustained its transport networks, and the rise of urbanism as a defining feature of modern life. In doing so, Heckman elevates what might seem like an everyday scene into a statement about the built environment and the human activity within it. Appreciating the making of art in relation to production and labor, we gain a richer understanding of its cultural significance.