Chance Meeting

If you do not know who Martin Lewis is......well I feel bad for you.  But let me brighten your day: Martin Lewis (1881-1962) is one of the most underrated printmakers of all time.  This print, "Chance Meeting" is arguably his most famous image.  A collector friend of mine in Chicago has a beautiful impression of this hanging outside of his guest room.  Fortunately for me i get to worship this print every time I visit, and I'm still trying to figure out some sort of deal to work out with him so I could take the thing home! Lewis specialized in New York street scenes, often with a use of strong lighting to create drama and depth.  Lewis was an etcher, and was obviously heavily influenced by the work of Rembrandt.  He was able to combine the elements of drypoint and aquatint with staggering mastery. While not as wild in his plate wiping skills as Rembrandt,  Lewis was able to inject otherwise mundane subject matter with mystery and nostalgia by a heightened use of light and shadow.  A lot of Lewis's scenes happen at night, a lot like in the work of Edward Hopper (whom he later taught etching).  Martin Lewis is recognized in collector circles as one of the most important American printmakers, and to me this is an understatement.  Problem is........he was AUSTRALIAN!  He came to the U.S. around the age of 20 and fell in love with New York.  Martin Lewis's body work proves that he ranks among the greatest printmakers of all time regardless of his country of origin.

Martin Lewis, "Chance Meeting", etching, 10"x7 1/2", 1940-41

For more on Martin Lewis check him out HERE.

Check out more of his prints HERE.

Learn all about what an etching is HERE.

DURER'S ONLY WORTHY RIVAL.

Todays Print Lesson:  "The Dance of St. Mary Magdalene" by Lucas Van Leyden (1494-1533), engraving, 11" x 15", 1519.  This engraving is one of the most beautiful and technically impressive in the history of intaglio printmaking.  Considering that "Master Lucas" (as Albrecht Dürer called him!) lived a short time, and during the period that Durer dominated, its amazing to look at his body of work and what he was able to accomplish.  Master Lucas manages to create atmosphere and depth by skillful engraving only rivaled by Durer, and in some cases such as this he may even surpass him!   His  pictorial composition skills are unsurpassed. I spent a couple of weeks in Nuremberg at the national museum a few years back.  Every day I went to the print room determined to look at in real life, every single Durer, Cranach, Van Leyden, & Altdorfer that exists.  I did, and came away with no doubt in my mind that Durer was the best, but not by far.  His closest rival was Master Lucas.  For just a second you need to look at his birthdate, and then the date of his best work.  You will soon be floored by the fact that he did his best work when he was around the age of 20!  Hell, he did "The Dance of St Mary Magdalene" at 25!  He was a prodigy, and Durer knew this.  Durer collected prints by him. Talk about getting respect.  Pure and simple, he was one of the most gifted printmakers that ever lived.  Period.  For more on Master Lucas read about him HERE.  Also, visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art's page regarding this print.