Anton Friedrich Josef Schutz. 1894-1977.
Lower Manhattan seen from Montague Terrace, Brooklyn Heights. 1931. Aquatint. 9 7/8 x 14 (sheet 11 3/4 x 17 1/8). First state. A richly-inked impression printed on Japan paper with full margins. Signed and inscribed 'First state' in pencil. $3,500.
Anton Schutz's dramatic aquatint etching of New York City at night, as viewed from Brooklyn Heights over the Brooklyn shipyards in the foreground, captures the spectacular urban panorama of lower Manhattan with its city lights reflected on the East River. In his etchings Schutz typically used lines to precisely depict architectural structure and detail, but here he used the tonal medium of aquatint to vary shadows of dark ink to evoke the massing of buildings "floating" between expanses of water and sky. He left tiny areas unprinted to suggest glowing light emanating from lit spires and windows. Among Schutz's best prints, Lower Manhattan Seen from Montague Terrace, Brooklyn Heights is record of a modern metropolis defined by recently constructed skyscrapers.
Born in German, Schutz was a successful etcher. In February 1924, he moved to New York City after destroying all of his copperplates used to print his German etchings. In New York, he immediately became a successful etcher, known for his technical skills and portrayals of American cities.
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