Fifth Avenue, Noon

About this work

This etching shows Fifth Avenue at noon in 1916. A bird’s-eye view captures carriages, street vendors, and crowds below tall buildings. The lines are razor sharp—no color, just black and white. Hassam used drypoint here. He scratched fine lines into the metal plate, letting ink pool for deep shadows. The effect feels alive, like you’re gliding above the street. Look up how drypoint works next.