28 Brewer Street

Bone was trained as an architect before taking up etching. Moving to London from his native Scotland in 1902, he quickly established himself as an important print maker. Fusing his architectural training with his artistic vision, he frequently depicted buildings that had become modern landmarks or were being demolished because of urban growth. For artistic purposes and perhaps as a comment on the changing scene, the structures are often portrayed in a dramatic light. This view of Brewer Street, with its rich chiaroscuro, is a case in point. Just north of Piccadilly Circus, Brewer Street, off of Regents Street in Soho, was then and still is filled with shops. By putting the buildings and the pedestrians in a half light, Bone captures the quiet that comes over a commercial area at the end of the business day.