Type of work: Matte Painting

For this shot, I was commissioned to recreate the Manhattan skyline as it appeared in 1941. This proved to be an exceptionally challenging project due to the scarcity of comprehensive photographic documentation from that era. With limited wide-angle photographs available, I had to rely primarily on individual building references and piece together the urban landscape from fragmented historical sources.

The reconstruction process required extensive research of each structure, studying individual building photographs and architectural records to understand their appearance and positioning within the broader cityscape. I then digitally painted textures and details onto each building, ensuring they reflected the authentic architectural styles and weathering patterns of the 1940s.

The entire project spanned approximately one month, divided between intensive historical research and the actual digital artwork. While a few minor sections required some interpretive liberty, the overall reconstruction faithfully captures the authentic character of Manhattan's skyline during that pivotal moment in history.