Street of the Dead Man - Toledo

Print

The Art & History Museums of Maitland

Name/Title

Street of the Dead Man - Toledo

Entry/Object ID

2013.20

Description

This etching depicts a narrow, winding street in Toledo, Spain, surrounded by closely arranged historic buildings. A prominent structure with a projecting upper tower and decorative architectural details dominates the left side of the composition, while the adjoining buildings recede into the shadowed passageway. A solitary seated figure rests near a doorway in the foreground, introducing a quiet human presence into the otherwise imposing architectural setting. Smith employs dense cross-hatching, expressive linework, and dramatic contrasts of light and shadow to emphasize the weathered surfaces and intricate details of the buildings. The vertical composition accentuates the height of the surrounding architecture, while the narrow street draws the viewer's eye into the distance. The etching balances careful observation of the built environment with an atmospheric portrayal of an intimate urban setting.

Type of Print

Etching

Artwork Details

Medium

Etching on paper

Subject

Architecture; Street Scene; Historic buildings; Figure; Urban landscape

Collection

Smith Collection (MAA)

Cataloged By

Katie Benson

Acquisition

Accession

2013.04

Source or Donor

Peter Banca

Made/Created

Artist

J. André Smith

Date made

circa 1921