Manhattan, Old and New 1929

Samuel Chamberlain’s etching “Manhattan, Old and New” is a city scene caught in a web of delicate lines. Imagine him, back in the day, carefully layering those marks to build up this vision of New York. The contrasts are what get me. Look how the old buildings seem to crumble in shadow, while the skyscrapers loom in the background. You can feel the old being swallowed by the new, right? It's not just about the buildings; it's the mood, the atmosphere he creates with light and dark. The hatching feels almost frantic, a bit like the city itself. I bet Chamberlain was thinking about more than just architecture. He was probably thinking about change, time, progress—all that heavy stuff artists love to ponder. It reminds me of Piranesi, but with an American twist.