The artwork, titled “Upper Manhattan,” was created by Thomas Hart Benton in 1917. This piece belongs to the Post-Impressionism art movement and is categorized as a cityscape genre. The painting presents a vibrant and somewhat abstract representation of an urban scene.
In the artwork, the viewer’s eye is drawn to a blend of vivid reds, yellows, and greens, which dominate the landscape. Central to the composition are a few houses, their forms rendered in a manner that emphasizes bold lines and simplified shapes. A tall tree in the foreground stretches vertically, contrasting with the rounded forms of the trees and buildings in the background. The intensity of the colors and the dynamic arrangement of forms evoke the bustling yet harmonious spirit of the urban environment depicted. The overall effect is a lively and colorful interpretation of Upper Manhattan, capturing the essence of the city through Benton’s unique Post-Impressionist lens.
