MARSH, Reginald

American (1898 – 1954)

Tattoo-Shave-Haircut, 1932

Sasowsky 140 i/x. Etching and engraving on wove paper, with watermark (P&C intertwined in oval). Sasowsky lists 2 impressions of the first state marked A and B, the latter of which is in the New York Public Library, and 3 “tissue proofs,” one of which is offset from another impression. While he accounts for five impressions in total, the impression offered here is not included in his census. Signed and inscribed in pencil “Third proof– 1st state.”

10 x 10 inches   |   25.4 x 25.4 cm.

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This famous etching portrays a lively barbershop or storefront scene in the Lower East Side or Bowery, areas Marsh frequently depicted. The signage—advertising tattoos, shaves, and haircuts—suggests a vibrant, working-class establishment. Like Marsh’s other etchings, the  dense composition and expressive linework capture the raw energy of urban America during the Great Depression.  The complex interplay between figures, signage, and architectural elements gives a sense of overlapping narratives, much like a mural or film still.