The Newark Museum - An Interpretation of an Interpretation

The Voice of the City of New York Interpreted, Joseph Stella. 1920-22.

This polyptych is a collective of five; grand canvases lined up vertically next to one another. Two of the five use vibrant colors to describe the sounds of the city streets bouncing back and forth between skyscrapers. The other three could be described as aerial views of New York City, really capturing the formatted geometry of the city. He alternates point of views beginning with the darker toned image, almost like the feeling of first arriving in the city, named “The Port.” It gave me a mysterious vibe with the combination of dark colors, and there’s a feeling that you are in a new place right when you step off the boat. He strategically puts one of the colorful, loud paintings next to it to highlight the greater-than-life New York City lifestyle. There is so much going on between the colors and lines leading in all directions that you are encouraged to stare into the portraits deeply.

This voice that Stella is describing in the photo makes sense. He takes into account the grand scale of NYC which produces this deep echo sound, while the street level pieces have sounds flowing from everywhere creating a beautiful, bright melody. On the middle canvas, Stella shows viewers the sound waves being transmitted by the city, coming from all angles, all the time. The bright lights and constant noise is why it’s known as the city that never sleeps. With the innovative minds that are living in NYC at this time, there is too much creativity only to be working from 9-5pm.

When I first saw the piece, I was captivated by its size. It makes me feel like I can look and hear at all sides of the city simultaneously. I also get the 1920s, Great Gatsby feels. The Roaring Twenties was a time of rebellion, defying prohibition, and becoming morally loose. Just like stained glass, every time I look at his pieces, I see a new color and detail. Stella takes us in and out of NYC, zooming in and coming back out almost like a jumping bean going in and out from city streets to the sky to captivate audiences and keep them looking.

The Broadway-inspired piece is my favorite because I can see the stage with a curtain and the whole painting is a recollection of a production. It visually describes what it is like to be a spectator and apart of the show. People in production see all of the behind the scene work whereas patrons see the finished product. None the less, the collaboration of colors and precision is noteworthy.

I do not think interpretations have changed over time about NYC, not that they cannot, but it hasn’t happened yet. New York City is and will continue to be, a significant destination for innovators and creatives. People come from around the world to be a part of the melting pot that is the city.