New York, Evening on the East River

Max Pollak

Max Pollak was commissioned by author Theodore Dreiser to do a series of eight etchings of New York which were reproduced in Dreiser's book "My City", published in 1929. This is one of the etchings that was not used. The eight published works were done in editions of 150, this image was probably an edition of 50 or fewer.

The iconic Brooklyn Bridge spans the East River connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York City. The bridge was approved in 1869 and took fourteen years to build. It was the first steel suspension bridge in the U.S. and has a span of 1,600 feet. It is known for its beautifully designed granite towers and dramatic steel cables.

Rather than viewing the bridge from the side or down the middle, which is usual, Pollak opts to look down from above onto a portion of the bridge from the Brooklyn side, with Manhattan visible in a haze in the background. The powerful bridge overwhelms the city, which is mostly viewed through the cables. Both the bridge and the city appear to soar into space as evening sets in.

The East River flows beneath the bridge, with barges and ships visible at the docks. A smoke spewing barge makes its way up the river at the left.