Madison Square is one of three color woodcuts that Baumann produced from his 1917 visit to New York City. The other two are Fifth Avenue and The Palisade. During 1917, Baumann used his Swanli chop which he carved into the blue block for both Madison Square and Fifth Avenue.
Depicted here is the second Madison Square Garden which was a Moorish style building designed by Stanford White and cost more than a half-million dollars to build. It opened in June 1890. The focal point is the looming Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower that is located at Madison Avenue and 24th Street. The 700-foot-tall tower was completed in 1909 and was the tallest building in the world until 1912.