Buildings

John Marin, 1910

MEDIUMWatercolor with blotting, over graphite, on lightweight, slightly textured, off-white wove paper, laid down on ivory wove card
DIMENSIONS18.7 × 23.1 cm (7 3/8 × 9 1/8 in.)
LOCATIONArt Institute of Chicago
COLLECTIONPrints and Drawings
CULTUREUnited States
CREDIT LINEAlfred Stieglitz Collection

This John Marin watercolor captures the vibrant energy of New York City's skyline in 1910, transforming solid buildings into a shimmering, almost abstract vision through experimental technique.

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ABOUT THIS WORK

In this dynamic watercolor, a cluster of New York City buildings seems to shimmer and sway, as if viewed through heat haze or reflected on water. The scene, possibly captured from the Brooklyn Bridge, transforms the dense urban skyline into a vibrant, almost dreamlike vision. The artist, John Marin, used a fluid, improvisational technique, allowing the watercolors to bleed and blot across the paper. Notice the warm and cool color contrasts, a palette he would refine into iridescent effects in later works. This piece is one of several sketches from 1910 that explore the city from the Hudson River, each demonstrating a distinct approach to watercolor and a growing desire to experiment with the medium.

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What to Notice

1

The way the buildings seem to lean and shift, almost like they're in motion.

2

Warm yellows and oranges contrasting with cool blues and grays.

3

Areas where the watercolor has softly blurred and blotted.

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Audio Deep Dive

This John Marin watercolor captures the vibrant energy of New York City's skyline in 1910, transforming solid buildings into a shimmering, almost abstract visi…

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THE ARTIST
John Marin

John Marin captured the dynamic energy of New York City and the rugged beauty of the Maine coast in his groundbreaking abstract watercolors.

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