Philadelphia Street c. 1923 - 1939

Elizabeth O’Neill Verner made this print of a street in Philadelphia, it seems, with a needle, some acid, and a lot of care. I am imagining the scratching and the biting, the inky residue, the press. Look at how she varies the marks. Some areas, like the brick wall, are rendered with incredibly fine detail. Others, especially the bare tree branches above, are more open, more like a sketch. Did she draw from life, standing on this street with her tools? Or was she working from memory, or from photos? I wonder what it’s like to walk down this street. The whole scene feels old but also intimate, as though the artist is inviting us to turn down this lane with her. I think that is the magic of art, this conversation across time and space. One artist sees, another responds, and the whole world opens up.