Etching and aquatint16 x 42 5/8 inches (40.6 x 108.3 cm)
Edition of 75
Sís was among five artists chosen in 2001 to create a horizontal work to be showcased in the unused advertising
spaces of subway train cars as part of an MTA commission for the Art Cards program. One of the most popular posters in the history of the MTA, it’s a rare find. This etching and aquatint with hand-coloring is based on the original drawing, which was never available for sale. Sis is known for his inventive maps and borders. Untitled (Whale) is no different. The silhouetted New York skyline follows the whale’s spine, its cross-section a labyrinth of Manhattan buildings, including the World Trade Center. The blowhole of the whale is Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. A path within the belly of the animal shows subway train cars. Sis wrote The Ocean World in 1992, later explaining his fascination with whales as a product of his upbringing in the Czech Republic, a landlocked country.
Published by Mary Ryan Gallery.
Published by Mary Ryan Gallery.