Richard Haas, 484-90 BROOME STREET -First State (Charles Cowles Collection), 1970

Richard Haas

484-90 BROOME STREET -First State (Charles Cowles Collection), 1970

Rare early 1970s etching by the world's top muralist and architectual draughtsman, Richard Haas. This work is pencil signed and numbered from the limited edition only 20. It was originally part of the collection of art dealer Charles Cowles, and bears his gallery and collection label on the verso. The work depicts a famous SOHO commercial building - which is now home to the non profit arts organization The Kitchen.
Catalogue Raisonne Reference: Szoke, The Prints of Richard Haas

484-490 Broome Street is a 6-story residential building completed in 1891. Designed by Alfred Zucker as a warehouse, this building is a spectacular example of Rundbogenstil architecture, in red brick and rusticated brownstone. A pair of giant arches frame the main window bays of the first three floors. The top three floors, also handled as a unit, are set off above a string course lined with carved stone heads. Here the outer and central bays are grouped vertically to create "towers" which rise above the roof line and alternate with two groups of square-headed windows of three bays each. All sixth-floor windows are round-arched. Carved blocks with the medieval motif of a dragon biting its own tail are set at the imposts of the large triple-bay arches at the top of the second floor windows. The windows within-these arches as well as those at the fifth and sixth floors above th^se are formed by iron components. At the roof line the stone cornice, which is edged by a pellet molding, has oversized modillions alternating with a large acanthus leaf motif. Following its use as a warehouse, 472 Broome later served as the home of The Kitchen, an arts center. Today it is residential, with the ground floor occupied by Selima Optique, Broadfoot & Broadfoot Gallery, Jacques Lieberman, and Marie Belle chocolates.
Not examined outside of original vintage 1970s hand made wooden frame, but there appears to be some slight rippling in the white margin area, which would re-frame out fine, or could easily be flattened by a restorer, if collector so wishes. Look at the photos.

Signed, titled, dated and numbered in graphite pencil on the recto (front)

Provenance: 

Collection of Charles Cowles
Collection of Jan Cowles

Literature:

Szoke (Catalogue Raisonne) The Prints of Richard Haas