Civic Insomnia (New York) 1932

Gerald Geerlings created this etching called "Civic Insomnia (New York)" during the interwar period, a time marked by immense social and political change. Geerlings captures the essence of a city that never sleeps, but his insomnia is not glamorous. The city’s glow becomes a symptom of the restless energy of modernity. The towering skyscrapers, symbols of progress and ambition, loom over the scene, but their reflections ripple in the water. This almost gothic vision of the modern city can be seen as a reflection of the artist’s personal experience of urban life. The choice of a nocturnal setting enhances the sense of unease. The figures at the end of the pier look out at the viewer. They seem drawn in and pushed out at the same time, symbolizing the ambivalence of the modern subject in the face of overwhelming urban development. Geerlings’ print is not merely a representation of New York, but a meditation on the psychological and emotional impact of urbanization and the relentless pursuit of progress.