Alan - 32 East 65th Street by Karl Heffner

Alan - 32 East 65th Street

Karl Heffner

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“This color woodcut offers a serene glimpse into a specific New York City street, using a delicate technique to capture the quiet atmosphere of an urban moment. Its unique format and subtle tones invite a closer, more contemplative look.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

In "Alan - 32 East 65th Street," a quiet urban scene unfolds with a striking sense of depth and atmosphere. The color woodcut technique, applied to ivory Japanese paper, lends a soft, almost painterly quality to the composition, allowing for subtle gradations of tone and color that evoke a specific time of day or weather. The long, horizontal format draws the eye across the streetscape, suggesting a wide, panoramic view of a particular moment in New York City. The choice of a specific address in the title grounds the image in a tangible reality, inviting viewers to imagine the stories held within these buildings and the life of the person named Alan. This print captures a mood of quiet observation, transforming an everyday street into a contemplative scene.

DETAILS
Artist
Karl Heffner
Medium
Color woodcut on ivory Japanese paper
Location
Art Institute of Chicago
Dimensions
Image: 17.5 × 42 cm (6 15/16 × 16 9/16 in.); Sheet: 30.4 × 62.1 cm (12 × 24 1/2 in.)
Collection
Prints and Drawings
Culture
United States
Credit line
Gift of Louis Pomerantz
LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Alan - 32 East 65th Street
01

The way the colors subtly blend, creating a soft, hazy light.

02

The texture of the ivory Japanese paper, visible beneath the print.

03

The architectural details of the buildings along 65th Street.

04

The long, narrow format, emphasizing the street's expanse.

AUDIO DEEP DIVE

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The full narration walks you through Alan - 32 East 65th Street — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.

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THE ARTIST

Karl Heffner

1849–1925 · Germany

Karl Heffner was a German landscape painter known for atmospheric, softly lit river and twilight scenes in the tradition of Corot and the Barbizon school.

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