Popular Images
Although photographs from the 1930s reveal that House and Street represents the intersection of Front Street and Coenties Slip in lower Manhattan, complete with a backdrop of tenements and commercial skyscrapers, the painting’s most striking formal feature is the splitting of the intersection into two simultaneous, yet distinct street views—what Stuart Davis referred to as a “mental collage.” Davis was a movie fan, and it seems likely that he structured his composition like frames in a strip of film. House and Street, like many of his cityscapes, incorporates the barrage of signs, words, and lettering that constantly confront urban inhabitants. Along with “Front,” for Front Street, the artist included a bell—the symbol of the telephone company—and the word “Smith,” which may derive from a campaign poster for Alfred E. Smith, the popular governor of New York State who was seeking his party’s nomination in the 1932 presidential race.
Quality
The Whitney Print Shop offers exclusive custom reproductions of artworks in the collections and exhibitions of the Whitney Museum of American Art. Hand-made in the USA using gallery-quality materials, we create prints as true to the original work as possible, using strict color management protocols and state-of-the-art printing technology.
Selection
Many of the works offered through this store are exclusive and not available anywhere else. We are continually adding new artworks to our offering, so be sure to check back regularly as you build your own gallery. A variety of molding styles means our custom framed prints can match any type of decor.