Skyline 1928

Arnold Rönnebeck made this lithograph, Skyline, using stone and crayon, and what interests me is the overall darkness. Look at the surface. See the hatch marks? Rönnebeck builds up this dense atmosphere with what looks like a pretty simple, almost crude technique, all these tiny, close-knit strokes. It gives the whole image a kind of gritty texture, like the city itself. And yet, within this darkness, there are these intense highlights that make the buildings seem to glow from within. It’s a very physical thing to see the city emerge this way, this push-and-pull between light and dark. Check out how the bridge lights are rendered, like these big, concentric rings. There’s something almost playful in the midst of all this seriousness. It reminds me of the German Expressionists, like Kirchner, who were also trying to capture the energy and alienation of modern life. It's like Rönnebeck is saying, "Yeah, the city is overwhelming, but there’s also beauty and wonder here, if you know where to look."