15th Street Gallery

A mezzotint is a very labor-intensive and painstaking print to make. Its velvety richness is achieved by roughing the copper plate with thousands of dots/lines made by a special tool known as a “rocker.” In printing, the tiny pits in the plate hold the ink when the face of the pate is wiped clean. The results, particularly with these Mershimer scenes of New York, is quite stunning. When viewed from a distance these New York scenes can have an absolute photographic realism, but a closer look shows the artist’s sensibility at work. There is heightened intensity in the lighting and composition that distill the essence and magic of the city. It’s easy to see why Mershimer has become one of the most acclaimed contemporary mezzotint printmakers, being featured in exhibitions and museum collections throughout the country. We are honored to have his work here at the gallery and it was a delight to be reacquainted with Fred yesterday. Good old friends, indeed. These mezzotints.