When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Standing Man: Circa 1916
This is an original graphite drawing on paper by Martin Lewis, created circa 1916 as a preparatory study for the oil painting Dockworkers under the Brooklyn Bridge. Martin Lewis is best known for his atmospheric urban scenes and etchings depicting New York life in the early 20thcentury, and he remains an important figure in American printmaking history. The drawing depicts a standing male figure in a suit and hat, rendered with confident graphite line work and subtle shading characteristic of Lewis\'s observational sketches.
The work bears the estate stamp for Lucille Deming Lewis, the artist\'s wife, and includes estate inventory references \"LDL-227\" and \"#27201.\" The notation \"P.L.\" corresponds to Patricia Lewis, Martin Lewis\'s daughter-in-law, further supporting estateprovenance.
Other documentation from the Old Print Shop identifies the work as an authentic study sketch by the artist and places it within the artist\'s known body of preparatory material.
Condition is good overall, with expected light toning to the paper consistent with age. The drawing is professionally matted and has been framed for the last 16 years.
Estate-stamped Martin Lewis drawings and preparatory studies hold strong collector interest, particularly when tied to known compositions and accompanied by provenance authentication. Although finished etchings of this famous artist command significantly higher prices, original preparatory drawings remain desirable due to their rarity and direct invite into the artist\'s working process.
Paper: 10\" x 7.5\"
Mat: 16\" x 20\"
Frame: 21.25\" x 25.25\"
Lamp Post: Circa 1931
This item is an original pencil-on-paper drawing attributed to Martin Lewis, created circa 1931 as a preparatory study related to the composition Rainy Day, Queens. Martin Lewis is widely recognized for his atmospheric depictions of New York City and is particularly celebrated for his etchings and urban studies from the interwar period. This drawing depicts a solitary ornamental lamp post rendered in a minimalist and observational manner, consistent with Lewis\'s practice of isolatingarchitecture and urban details for later use in larger compositions.
The verso bears the Lucille Deming Lewis estate stamp, identifying it as part of the artist\'s estate collection, along with the inventory number LDL-705. The handwritten notation referencing \"Camp Post,\" \"study for Rainy Day Queens,\" and the 1931 date further strengthens the attribution and contextual relationship to the Artist\'s documented body of work.
The work has been professionally matted, and has been framed for the last 16 years, which has aided in preservation and presentation.
While this drawing is more minimal and less compositionally elaborate than finished Martin Lewis prints or major figure studies, authenticated estate sketches and preparatory studies remain collectible due to their rarity and direct connection to the artist\'s creative process. Comparable Martin Lewis estate drawings and pencil studies generally perform well within the niche market of American printmaking collectors.Paper: 7.4\" x 10\"Mat: 15\" x 20\"Frame: 22\" x 25.75\"
Houses on Long Island: Circa 1920-1935
This item is an original pencil drawing by Martin Lewis, identified as Houses on Long Island, likely created during the late 1920\'s to early 1930\'s. The composition depicts a row of sharply angled residential rooftops rendered with quick, economical graphite lines, demonstrating Lewis\'s characteristic ability to simplify architectural forms into rhythmic patterns of light and geometry. The notation on the reverse referencing similar to the oil painting \"Dawn\" suggests this drawing may have functioned as a preparatory compositional study connected to a larger painted or printmaking project. The work carries strong estate provenance through the \"Collection Lucille Deming Lewis\" stamp and inventory number LDL-306, along side the estate signature \"P.L.\" for Patricial Lewis - Martin Lewis\'s daughter-in-law, which is consistent with documented estate handling and authentication practices for works remaining within the Lewis family archive.
Although modest in scale, intimate architectural studies by Martin Lewis are increasingly appreciated by collectors because they reveal the artist\'s compositional process outside his better-known etchings. Estate-stamped and catalogued drawings maintain stronger market confidence than undocumented sketches, particularly when liked to known compositions or themes in Lewis\'s body of work. Comparable authenticated graphite studies and preparatory sketches by Martin Lewis generally achieve solid results in the American works on paper market. This piece holds good condition, provenance markings, rarity and current collector demand.
Paper: 4.5\" x 6\"
Mat: 16\" x 20\"
Frame: 21.5\" x 25.5\"
Please note: Any attempts of defrauding will be immediately reported to . All communications regarding this listing will remain in digitalpapertrail.
