MARTIN LEWIS (AUSTRALIAN 1881-1962)
Fifth Avenue Bridge [McCarron 72]
1928
signed in pencil
drypoint etching on laid
from the unnumbered edition of approximately 108
plate 25 x 30.1cm
framed

Literature: McCarron 72
Reference: See Art Institute of Chicago accession number 1929.115 for another example of this edition

Note: Martin Lewis (1881–1962) was born in Victoria, Australia, and showed a passion for drawing from an early age. After joining a bohemian community outside Sydney, two of his drawings were published in the radical arts magazine The Bulletin. In 1900, Lewis moved to the United States, and by 1909, he was working as a commercial illustrator in New York. His first etching dates to 1915, though the skill of the work suggests he had been experimenting with the medium for some time. During this period, he collaborated with Edward Hopper, teaching him the fundamentals of the craft.

Lewis is best known for his atmospheric depictions of urban life, particularly New York City at night. Between 1925 and 1937, he produced his most celebrated works, capturing the interplay of light, shadow, and human activity in the bustling city. His art gained traction amongst collectors, and by the late 1920s, Lewis transitioned to working full-time as an artist. Despite becoming known as one of the greatest American printmakers of the 20th century, he died in obscurity in 1962.

This lot is one of Lewis's most iconic prints. Fifth Avenue Bridge perfectly encapsulates a New York evening in the late 1920s. It depicts women strolling across the bridge in light, spring attire, evoking the mood and style of the era. Lewis’s mastery of etching allowed him to vividly portray the vibrancy of city life, even in black and white.