Artwork
Woolworth Building June Night
Woolworth Building June Night is a print by Rachael Robinson Elmer. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Woolworth Building June Night is a 1916 linocut print by American artist Rachael Robinson Elmer. The work depicts the iconic Woolworth Building illuminated against a night sky, rendered in stark contrast with the surrounding darkness.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the skyscraper’s illuminated façade, its windows glowing like a series of lanterns. Beneath the tower, faint streetlights and vague urban forms suggest a quiet, early‑evening street, emphasizing the building’s prominence within the cityscape.
Technique & Style
Elmer employed the linocut process, carving bold, simplified shapes into a linoleum block and printing them in vivid hues. The stark dark background heightens the brightness of the windows, creating a visual effect akin to a spotlight that draws the eye to the structure’s geometric lines.
Context
Created during a period when American printmakers were exploring modern urban subjects, the piece reflects early twentieth‑century fascination with skyscrapers as symbols of progress. Elmer’s use of flat color fields and strong outlines aligns with contemporary graphic trends, echoing her broader body of work that often portrayed city scenes in a similarly stylized manner.
Artist & collection
