20th-Century American Paintings

Dating from 1909-10, this watercolor is from the first group of New York scenes which was to become a dominant subject in Marin’s work. These cityscapes, inspired by the imagery of Alfred Stieglitz’s photographs, were infused with the modernist energy of his fellow artists at Stieglitz’s 291 Gallery.

This vibrant view of 43rd Street, looking past the newly constructed Times Tower toward the brightly-lit marquees of the theatre district, conveys the robust vitality of the city’s growth. Marin creates the sensation of movement and power in this emerging metropolis by peppering the large formal masses of sky and buildings with nervous accents to suggest the architectural details and crowded sidewalks.
 

Provenance

Private Collection, United Kingdom, 1910

By descent until 2005

Literature

Reich, Sheldon. John Marin: A Stylistic Analysis and Catalogue Raisonné. Tuscon, Arizona: The University of Tucson Press, 1970, p. 334, no. 9.6 (as City Scene), illustrated.