The St. Moritz, New York 1934

This is "The St. Moritz, New York," a 1934 print by Esther Brock Bird. Imagine her, right? Standing in the rain, squinting, trying to capture that New York atmosphere with her tools. Look at all those fine lines, scribbling the rain and the reflections! The architecture looms in the background while people with umbrellas hover in the foreground. And those vintage cars, so slick. I can almost feel the chill and the dampness. What was she thinking as she etched away, capturing this moment? Did she feel a sense of belonging, documenting this moment for posterity? She’s part of a lineage of artist/reporters like Daumier or Grosz, whose works bring a specific time and place to life. Bird's embrace of imperfection is what makes this print so appealing. Imperfection, ambiguity, uncertainty—that’s what makes art sing.