Bak at the Block

For many of us in big cities, pictures of skyscrapers, reflective store windows, and teeming sidewalks are like catnip—an irresistible reminder of the type of environment we love and in which we have chosen to live our lives. Add to that the nostalgic distance of the 20th century and you’ve got a recipe for a love letter of an exhibition. “Picturing the Modern Metropolis: Prints and Photographs from the Block’s Collection” is made up of some 100 prints by both known and unknown artists and photographers that primarily depict views of Chicago and New York from the 1930s up to the 2000s. The highlight and centerpiece is a wall of 18 woodblock prints by Bronislaw “Bruno” Bok (American, born Poland, 1922-1981), which is a part of his 1967 suite, 100 Views of Chicago. Using a medium that dates back to the Middle Ages to evoke a contemporary American city, Bok marries past and present in a way that feels timeless. I wish the entire collection was on view.

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