Martin Lewis Prints 

 

An exhibition of prints by the Australian American artist, Martin Lewis, is on display at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich. Lewis is recognized as one of the premier printmakers of the first half of the 20th century, and is best known for non-tourist, real-life street scenes of New York City at night, with back-lit people and structures creating dark shadows in unusual shapes. Lewis was born in Victoria in 1881 and moved to the United Stares in 1900, where his first job was in San Francisco, painting stage decorations for William McKinley's presidential campaign. By 1909, Lewis was living in New York. He produced most of his best-known works between 1925 and 1935. He had success as an artist in New York City, but during the Depression he was forced to leave the City for four years between 1932 and 1936 and move to Connecticut. When Lewis was able to return to New York in 1936, there was no longer a market interested in his work. He died largely forgotten. Lewis's print, Shadow Dance, sold for $50,400 in New York in October 2010, setting a record price for the artist at auction. This print and 39 other prints by Lewis are on display at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT until February 26, 2012. The Bruce is a short walk from the Metro-North station in Greenwich. - CHRIS BEALE