Description
Haas made this print as part of an ongoing series of New York City architectural studies that he has produced since the 1970s. A Catalogue Raisonné by Marilyn S. Kushner, published in 2005, includes 153 prints he created between 1970 and 2004. They are at once works of art and meticulous studies of architectural elements, history, and design. In reddish brown, black, grey, and white tones, he renders the Dorilton architecture in a bold and aesthetically pleasing style.
At the turn of the 19th century, the Upper West Side became electrified both literally and in spirit. Electricity lit up the streets, and the 72nd Street Broadway Station made uptown easily accessible to downtown New Yorkers. The land value of this new terrain skyrocketed, attracting the attention of the renowned building developer Hamilton Weed; he retained the architectural firm Janes & Leo to design the Dorilton. This firm was known for their French Beaux-Arts designs — an architectural style popularized in 19th-century Paris that draws upon French neoclassicism, Renaissance, and Baroque elements and incorporates modern materials like iron, glass, and steel. Once completed, the Dorilton soon became one of several apartment-hotels in this area — including the Ansonia and the Dakota — that echo each other in style and grandeur. Haas’s rendering of the elegant Dorilton facade ultimately reflects not only the Beaux-Arts buildings of the Upper West Side, but this historical moment in New York City’s northern expansion.
Architectural Digest has produced an informative video about early architecture on the Upper West Side, including the Dorilton (see References below).
Richard Haas is an American muralist best known for his architectural prints and murals. According to architectural critic Paul Goldberger, “Richard Haas is an artist about architecture — he makes people stop and think about architecture and realize that buildings are not just a backdrop; they are also an active presence in our lives.” Haas’s interest in art and architecture is rooted in his adolescent job working as a stonemason’s assistant. He went on to receive his B.S. from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an M.F.A. from University of Minnesota. The artist moved to New York City in 1968 where he established a style of producing accurate prints and murals incorporating the architectural details of historic buildings. His subjects show a wide range of architectural styles including Greek Revival, Beaux Arts, and Art Deco. Hass produced a series of limited edition prints mostly between 1970s through the 1990s that exemplify his fascination with the architectural structure and history of New York City. Today, Haas lives in New York City with his family and continues to depict urban architectural design in new and uniquely stylistic ways.
Condition: Generally very good, the colors bright and fresh, with only light toning overall. Paper slightly naturally wavy as floated. Not examined out of frame.
References:
“How the Upper West Side Revolutionized NYC Apartments | Walking Tour | Architectural Digest.” YouTube, uploaded by Architectural Digest. 27 September 2023. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMFzFlrCzSc (8 May 2024).
“The Dorilton.” Wikipedia. 7 April 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dorilton (8 May 2024).
“The Dorilton, 171 West 71st Street, Borough of Manhattan. Built 1900-02; architects Janes & Leo.” Landmarks Preservation Commission. 8 October 1974. Num 1, LP-0858. s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/0858.pdf (8 May 2024).
“Richard Haas (About).” Richard Haas. http://www.richardhaas.com/about (26 April 2024).
“Richard Haas (American, born 1936).” Artnet. www.artnet.com/artists/richard-haas/ (26 April 2024).
