MARGOLIES, Samuel

American (1897 – 1978)

Man’s Canyons, 1936

Etching and aquatint on laid paper. Edition of 100. Signed and titled in pencil.

11 ⅞ x 8 ¾ inches  |  30.2 x 22.2 centimeters

The rare Man’s Canyons is the artist’s most sought-after etching. From Margolies‘ 25th-floor studio, he had a bird’s-eye view of the new metropolis of Manhattan.  This dynamic print offers an imaginative, compressed view, bringing together iconic skyscrapers—namely the Chrysler Building (left), Empire State Building (center), and Rockefeller Center (still under construction) on the right—into a single, dramatic scene. The artist uses strong diagonal shafts of light and deep shadows to emphasize the soaring verticality and ambition of the cityscape, which serves as a triumphant vision amid the Great Depression. On the streets below, tiny cars and pedestrians create a sense of scale, contrasting with the towering modern marvels above. Today, it is Margolies’ modernist aquatints of New York that are the most highly regarded, not the traditional snowy landscapes, which were more popular in his lifetime.

Please contact the gallery for the price.  (510) 654-7910