Three AM: A Corner by Madison Avenue (also known as 2 AM New York and Metropolis)
1927
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1927
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This sketch shows a quiet city street at night. Tall buildings loom over bare trees, their windows glowing. A few people walk on the sidewalk, and a streetlamp casts long shadows. The scene feels empty but alive, with light bouncing off the buildings. The artist used strong contrasts between light and dark to make the buildings stand out. This makes the city feel almost like a stage set. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this lighting trick works.
