Downtown Manhattan from the East River, with the Woolworth Building (1924)

This exquisite artwork by William Walcot captures the essence of Downtown Manhattan from the vantage point of the East River. In the foreground, the busy waterway is animated with boats that hint at the relentless activity of the early 20th-century metropolis. The softly detailed etching style lends an almost ethereal quality to the scene, inviting the viewer to peer into a moment frozen in time.Dominating the composition is the iconic Woolworth Building, one of the most famous skyscrapers in New York City. When the building was completed in 1913, it was the tallest in the world, a title it held until 1930. Here, Walcot presents it towering over its architectural brethren, a sentinel in stone and steel, masterfully rendered to emphasize its majestic height and intricate Gothic detailing.The cityscape surrounding the Woolworth Building is a blur of urban density, depicted with fine, almost wispy lines that provide a contrast to the solid, commanding presence of the towering skyscraper. This balance between solidity and transience, stasis and movement, encapsulates the dynamic spirit of Manhattan in the early 20th century.William Walcot, known for his architectural etchings, imbues this piece with a deep admiration for the burgeoning skyline of New York City. This artwork not only showcases his precision and skill as an etcher but also his ability to convey the monumental scale and the atmospheric ambiance of urban life.