Second Avenue c. 1935

Edwin Kaufman made this etching, Second Avenue, probably in the 1930s, using ink on paper to capture a corner store in New York. The cross hatching and fine linework really gives a sense of detail and texture. I’m interested in how the artist has worked, here, building up tone and form through repeated marks. Look at the way the elevated trainline looms above the street. The artist has described this in dense black lines that are etched deeply into the plate. This contrasts with the soft, light touch he has used to describe the figures populating the street. Each has been rendered as a series of quick marks to denote movement and activity. For me, this work is a reminder that printmaking is about process, each line, dot, and scratch contributes to a rich and complex image. You can see the world filtered through the eyes of a working artist. This reminds me of James Whistler, another printmaker and painter who was dedicated to the gritty beauty of urban life.