Skyscrapers in Construction, No. 2 1930

John Marin made this etching called 'Skyscrapers in Construction, No. 2' and it's a flurry of straight lines, kind of like shards of glass, all coming together to make these buildings. You know, looking at this, I feel like Marin was totally in tune with the energy of New York City. I can almost feel him there, hurrying and worrying, trying to catch the rhythm of the city. It’s not about getting every detail right, but about capturing the feeling of building, growing, and changing. The image feels provisional, like it could fall apart at any second. It reminds me a little of the Futurists, who were obsessed with speed and industry, but Marin brings something else, something personal and maybe even a little vulnerable. He's like a jazz musician improvising on a theme, taking something old and making it new, raw, and full of feeling. And that, my friends, is what keeps art alive, this constant conversation across time and space.