Pop Eye

 

Perhaps they speak to my eager anticipation for the new season of Mad Men, but when I came across these paintings of vintage NYC views I responded immediately. The artist is Edmund Smith, 80, a former NYC advertising man and creative director who took the original photos during his Manhattan working days in the 1960s. Using his snapshots as reference, Smith creates charming ever-so-slightly Pop interpretations in acrylic paints. Now based in Connecticut, Smith focuses largely on landscapes, portraits and animal scenes. The “archival” city views here, a recent– and felicitous- departure, were inspired by Smith having uncovered a stash of his own “forgotten” city photos. Vaguely Alex Katz and a little bit Richard Estes— the theme song to the Odd Couple is the background music to these paintings.