Fire Escape c. 1960s - 1970s

Here, you’ll see Jack Perlmutter's ‘Fire Escape’, an intriguing print composed of dynamic lines and stark contrasts. The left side is an intricate assembly of black lines depicting a fire escape, while the right is dominated by expanses of deep black and blocks of red suggesting adjacent buildings. The composition is bisected, yet there is an interplay between order and chaos. The fire escape is represented through a network of intersecting lines, creating a sense of depth and complexity that almost verges on abstraction. The red and black shapes on the other side provide a solid, grounding counterpoint. Perlmutter uses the stark contrast between the geometric rigidity of the fire escape and the simple, bold shapes of the buildings to destabilize our perception, inviting us to reconsider our understanding of urban space. This is not merely a depiction of buildings; it is an exploration of form and space. It’s a dynamic interplay between structure and void.