Brooklyn Bridge Enters Manhattan c. 1940

Arnold R. Southwell’s print shows the Brooklyn Bridge as it meets Manhattan, and you can see how the lithographic crayon almost vibrates on the page. The paper is so present, just barely marked. I can imagine Southwell standing there, maybe squinting, moving his hand just so, back and forth to make the marks that represent all of that architecture. Look at how the strokes become lighter and more atmospheric as they rise from the buildings into the sky. The whole scene has a ghostly, dreamlike quality. That kind of movement and light is something a lot of artists were thinking about then. Think of Whistler, maybe, or even the way some of the Impressionists handled urban scenes. Artists always talk to each other like that, across time, trading ideas. I love the modesty of the lithographic crayon. It’s a humble tool, but look how it sings here. It’s a reminder that sometimes, a little is all you need.