Bidspirit auction | Martin Lewis ”Fifth Ave Bridge”

Martin Lewis ”Fifth Ave Bridge” Drypoint - Martin Lewis (Australian/American, 1881-1962). Drypoint print on paper titled ”Fifth Avenue Bridge, ” 1928. Pencil signed along the lower right; from an edition of 108. Reference: McCarron 72. Provenance: Paramour Fine Arts; From the Estate of Gary Fink. Lot Essay: Martin Lewis (1880-1962) was a master American printmaker celebrated for his atmospheric etchings and drypoints of New York City and rural Connecticut. Born in Castlemaine, Australia, Lewis emigrated to the U.S. in 1900, where he became known for his technical brilliance and striking compositions. Though he worked as a commercial artist for years, he gained recognition in the 1920s for his fine art prints, quickly selling out editions during exhibitions and earning representation from Kennedy Galleries. A pivotal figure in early 20th-century American printmaking, Lewis was also influential among his peers. He famously taught etching techniques to Edward Hopper, and his work demonstrates a deep appreciation for Japanese aesthetics and European masters like Whistler and Rembrandt. Lewis’s journey into art began modestly; he showed early talent as a child in Australia, eventually studying under Thomas Fisher Levick for free before traveling through rural areas and artist colonies. His formal entry into printmaking came in 1915, and his artistic development was shaped by time abroad in London, Wales, and especially Japan, where he immersed himself in Japanese print traditions. Returning to New York in the 1920s, he abandoned commercial work to focus on his art. His prints from this period, like Relics, which sold out quickly and appreciated rapidly in value, cemented his place among the top American printmakers of his time. A respected teacher at the Art Students League and a well-connected member of New York’s artistic circles, Lewis lived much of his life in the city but also spent time in Connecticut with his wife, Lucile Deming, and their son. Though he never achieved the same level of fame as some contemporaries, Lewis’s precise, moody renderings of urban and rural life remain highly sought after and admired for their technical mastery and evocative atmosphere. Gary C. Fink was a collector with both a lighthearted sense of humor and a serious commitment to art. Through the Museum Louvre It or Leave It, he offered Minnesotans an offbeat, thought-provoking experience; through MIA gifts, he broadened institutional collections; and through his scholarship, he continues to enable the next generation of artists. A Renaissance soul in the heart of Minnesota’s art community, Gary C. Fink was more than an astute collector - he was a spirited patron whose unconventional vision left an indelible mark on the creative landscape. Sight; height: 11 in x width: 13 in. Framed; height: 19 in x width: 21 in x depth: 1 1/4 in. Condition: Please email us at condition@revereauctions.com for a condition report or additional photos.