American artist Martin Lewis was known for his drypoint etchings that captured street life in New York. In this work, Lewis depicts the drastic contrast of lifestyles that existed in the city during this period. While it was a decade known for its lavish style and prosperity, there were still many people living in gritty buildings who could only admire the glamour from afar. Here, Lewis depicts a woman on a fire escape amongst dark, squat buildings and hanging laundry, gazing at Manhattan’s Chanin Building glowing in the distance. (https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/new-york/articles/10-artworks-that-capture-nyc-in-the-1920s/)