yellow green and blue teal painting of the 1920 iron worker overlooking the skyline vistas of NYC

The yellow green and blue teal painting of the 1920 iron worker overlooking the skyline vistas of New York city gives us a sense of the power that... more

by MendyZ

Original - Not For Sale

Price

$9,800

Dimensions

16.000 x 20.000 x 1.000 inches

Title

yellow green and blue teal painting of the 1920 iron worker overlooking the skyline vistas of NYC

Artist

MendyZ

Medium

Painting - Acrylic On Canvas

Description

The yellow green and blue teal painting of the 1920 iron worker overlooking the skyline vistas of New York city gives us a sense of the power that these people had during the industrial age. The skyscraper is made of stone and steel; it is made of people that are hard workers with hard hands and strong backs. This is also the first painting showing the skyline without any cars, just pedestrians and horses walking around on the street. We are aware of how it makes us feel to see this man working so hard, but there is nothing that he owns—he doesn't own a house or apartment, he has no children, and he can't read or write. He works just to work because his job is the only one that he has. He is one of the thousands that flooded the area after world war I and there is a general emotional flood that goes along with that. Imagine you're from Italy during the late 1800s when they are building the new canals and you don't have any work. If you're in Europe then your only option is to move to America, where there were millions of jobs for everyone who could make it through the immigration process. It's that sense of openness and relief about ones future that brings on that amazing sense of self. He is just one of many that came to this country seeking a better life, which for many of them was not really what they got out of it.
The 1920 ironworker isn't a hero; he is a vital component of the fabric that weaves our society and culture. It's he that brings us together. Both in his iron rivets that cement the steel structures and swell the skyline, but also the society that thrives within it. He stands in place of the old world order that has been ripped away. With great power comes great responsibility, and this man does the dirty work, but he gets no credit for it. His face has been painted onto the skyline to represent him in some way, but it's not really him and it's us. The faceless ones who support and tie together humanity. We are all the same; we all want to be happy and to find peace at the end of the day. It's our nature as human beings. When we think about this image we get the sense of the power that people once held. The teals and blues give us a sense of depth, and brooding. It's that omnipresent sense of dread when trying to survive without a net. No support system was used in the 20s, and neither did the immigrants who arrived. The 1920s was the era of men standing alone; this is the first picture showing that.
The artist tried to bring on a sense of nostalgia into this painting. A nostalgic feeling for a simpler world that has been taken away. He wanted to bring in this nostalgia by showing the 1920s with a sense of longing and loss. We know that this is a dream that we will never reach, and that is exactly why this man, the iron workers, and the city itself represent the 1920s.
There is symbolism that we need to remember. The shafts of tall building enveloping the worker who is certainly on a lunch break. He is trapped and he is stuck, and all he can do is look out at the vista at how far his dreams have potential. We as humanity have potential. We have come so far in some areas, yet others have regressed significantly. There is no doubt that this country had huge strides forward during the 1900s. This is a period that I would call the renaissance that we have lived through.
We have learned more in the last two decades than I believe we ever have in history—and we are ruining much of the infrastructure around us. The very same architectural infrastructure that this iron worker created for us. The teals signify that we have lost our identity. We no longer live in the moment.
The 1920s was a time where the industrial revolution was just beginning. The 1920s was also the beginning of the art movement where surrealism, cubism, and expressionism were the main styles. This piece is more impressionist in nature. But has reminders of the cubist and surrealism of the time. The broad strokes of the artist brush bring this entire picture to life and give us the feeling of being here with this man. As if we could reach right into the middle of the painting and grab him. Known him over and watch him tumble from the half created tower of steel. The fact that his hands appear to be moving in a way that they can't possibly do gives us even more of a sense of uncomfortableness so his peril and outlook. There is a disconnect between the viewer and his surroundings.
If you're a city dweller, this painting might seem familiar to you. It's because it is so similar to the view that you see on top of the Empire State Building. You are him, and he is you.
The splash of yellow in the far right bottom corner brings to mind another iconic skyscraper known as the Chrysler Building. If you look closely you'll notice a similarity of the two buildings. They both sport an open stairwell. The staircase that leads to heaven and freedom. Your freedom.

Uploaded

July 1st, 2022