City Lights

Fritz Eichenberg

In the 1930s, Eichenberg became enthralled with recording his observations of downtown New York. As in several of the prints he executed for the WPA, City Lights features the streets of Manhattan teeming with activity. Unlike the Social Realists, Eichenberg was not interested in exposing the destitute conditions of city living during the Great Depression. Instead, he captures the excitement of nightlife, representing musicians, sailors, and glamorous-looking women beneath street signs, marquees, and advertisements that shine brightly against the night sky.
Date of Birth
(1901-1990)
Date
1934
Medium
Wood engraving on paper
Dimensions
6 3/16 x 4 3/4 in. (15.71625 x 12.065 cm.)
Accession #
2010.23.5
Credit Line
Gift of Naomi F. Miller and Elizabeth J. Miller in memory of Abraham and Mildred Miller
Category