Hello, this item is an original graphite drawing on paper by Martin Lewis, created circa 1916 as a preparatory study for the oil painting Dockworkers under the Brooklyn Bridge. Martin Lewis is best known for his atmospheric urban scenes and etchings depicting New York life in the early 20th century, and he remains an important figure in American printmaking history. The drawing depicts a standing male figure in a suit and hat, rendered with confident graphite line work and subtle shading characteristic of Lewis’s observational sketches. The work bears the estate stamp for Lucille Deming Lewis, the artist’s wife, and includes estate inventory references “LDL-227” and “#27201.” The notation “P.L.” corresponds to Patricia Lewis, Martin Lewis’s daughter-in-law, further supporting the estate provenance. The accompanying documentation from The Old Print Shop identifies the work as an authentic study sketch by the artist and places it within the artist’s known body of preparatory material.

Condition appears good overall, with expected light toning to the paper consistent with age. The drawing has been professionally matted and framed, which has helped preserve its presentation quality. Estate-stamped Martin Lewis drawings and preparatory studies hold strong collector interest, particularly when tied to known compositions and accompanied by provenance documentation. While finished etchings by Martin Lewis command significantly higher prices, original preparatory drawings remain desirable due to their rarity and direct insight into the artist’s working process. Based on comparable sales for authenticated Martin Lewis graphite studies and estate material, the fair market value for this drawing would likely range between $2,500 and $5,000 USD.