Woolworth Building, No. 28

Art Historical Context

In this watercolor, a soaring central tower dominates the composition, its vertical lines and stepped setbacks rendered in pale washes that rise against a lively sky of blue and soft orange. Below, smaller architectural forms cluster at the base, their shapes suggested through fluid strokes of red, green, and brown that blend into the surrounding street level. The artist’s loose brushwork and visible graphite underdrawing create a sense of movement, with splashes and drips conveying the energy of the urban scene rather than precise detail. John Marin painted Woolworth Building, No. 28 in 1912 using watercolor over graphite, capturing one of New York’s earliest skyscrapers at a moment when the city’s skyline was rapidly changing. As part of the American modernist circle, Marin approached architecture with the same dynamic spirit he brought to landscapes, emphasizing rhythm and light over literal description. The work belongs to a series in which he explored the Woolworth Building’s soaring presence, reflecting the excitement and scale of early twentieth-century urban growth.

About the Artist

John Marin · 1870–1953

John Marin (1870-1953) was a pioneering American modernist known for his dynamic watercolors and oils of the Maine coast and New York City. A late bloomer who didn't commit to art until nearly 30, Marin developed a distinctive style combining European modernism with American subjects, capturing the energy of skyscrapers and the elemental power of the sea through fractured planes, vibrant color, an...