J.M. Brunswick, & Belke Co., Chicago, Illinois, Addition
c. 1883
Medium
Black & red ink on linen with red & brown wash on verso
Dimensions
Various
Classification
architectural drawing
Department
Architecture and Design
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
73590
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Step into the innovative world of Chicago's architectural golden age with this c. 1883 drawing by Adler & Sullivan, titled *J.M. Brunswick, & Balk Co., Chicago, Illinois, Addition*. during the firm's inaugural year, it depicts plans for an expansion to the renowned billiard table manufacturer's facilities—a booming enterprise in post-Great Fire Chicago. Architects Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan, pioneers of the Chicago School, redefining urban design with their emphasis on structural honesty, functional beauty, and early hints of the tall-building aesthetic that would birth the modern skyscraper. Rendered in black and red ink on durable linen, with vibrant red and brown washes on the verso for presentation flair, this drawing exemplifies 19th-century drafting techniques. Linen's resilience made it ideal for detailed architectural plans shared among builders and patrons, while the colored washes added depth and visual appeal, bridging technical precision with artistic expression. Sullivan's emerging organic motifs—subtle precursors to his famous "form follows function" philosophy—shine through, showcasing how architecture intertwined with Chicago's industrial might. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Architecture and Design collection, this piece offers a window into an era when factories like Brunswick's fueled America's economic engine, and visionaries like Adler & Sullivan laid the groundwork for the city's skyline. A testament to creativity amid rapid urbanization! (198 words)
About the Artist
Adler & Sullivan, Architects · 1883–1896
Adler & Sullivan was the Chicago architectural partnership that laid the conceptual and structural foundations for the modern American skyscraper. Dankmar Adler (1844–1900), a German-born engineer celebrated for his mastery of building acoustics and structural systems, hired Louis Sullivan (1856–1924) in 1879; the two became full partners in 1883. Sullivan had trained at the Massachusetts Institut...