Martin Lewis, N.A. 1881-1962.
Derricks at Night. 1927. Drypoint. McCarron 62.ii. 7 7/8 x 11 7/8 (sheet 11 1/2 x 16 1/8). Edition of 104 recorded impressions. Illustrated:Flint, Contemporary American Etching, American Art Dealers Association, New York, 1930. A rich impression printed on cream wove paper, with full. Signed and annotated 'imp' in pencil, indicating a proof printed by the artist. Housed in a striking 7 7/8 x 21 3/4-inch gold modernist frame. $11,000.
McCarron, p. 62, describes the changes in state ii: Both legs of workman now visible; three windows at top right lighted; bracket holding streetlight strengthened; background behind wooden barricade at right darkened; two metal stands to right of lamp base at right burnished to stand out more clearly; wooden slat below globe of lamp defined; third stringcourse added to building at right window directly above man's head reduced in size; two angled lines added in triangular space to left of that window; wires added to beams on pulleys; two wall posters added in shadows of wooden barricade at left; four uppermost windows in roof of building at left clearly defined; three windows in floor below roof of building at left defined; strong vertical lines of those windows rendered less prominent.
McCarron writes, p. 63: Lewis made the changes described above sometime after April 4, 1929. He described them briefly in his record book as 'Changed runner on derrick booms / posture of man / and worked all over plate / edition finished.' Derricks at Night is the only Lewis print with such extensive changes between states. The second state was begun two years after he had essentially finished the composition, an exception to Lewis's usual procedure in completing a plate.
To order or to be placed on the email list, please contact Jane Allinson (jane@allinsongallery.com)or send a fax to 860 429 2825.